Two of Hearts

Chapter 1

By Kanshisha Tenshi

Disclaimer:  I do not own, nor have I ever owned, nor will I ever own, X-Men:  Evolution or its characters.  They belong to Marvel, etc., yada yada yada.  I do own Lauren, though.  And the plot.  And this story's title and the one before it is MINE!  So there.

~[ 2 ]~

            Remy had begged and pleaded with Xavier.  If they could allow animal-like mutants, why not real animals?  The Professor had relented.  No one had any allergies to it.

            So Remy got Rogue an adorable brown-and-white kitten.

~[ 2 ]~

            Rogue trudged into her room and fell onto her bed.  She heard a muffled noise and felt a lump under her arm.  She looked, and saw a clearly irritated pile of brown and white.  She propped herself up on her elbow to inspect it further.

            A kitten.  A kitten with a note.

            Surprise, chére.  Happy birthday!  The colors match you perfectly.  Like it?

            Love,

            Remy

            She smiled, picked up her kitten, and walked downstairs.

~[ 2 ]~

            "Like, oh my God," Kitty squealed, "is that a kitten?  It is, like, so totally cute!"

            "Yeah, Ah know.  Remy got him for meh."

            "Have you named him yet?" Jean asked, petting the kitten.  He batted at her hand.

            Smart cat, Rogue thought smugly.  Must be a feline mutant.  Maybe a telepath.

            "Not yet," she admitted out loud.  Jokingly, she added, "Ah was thinkin' somethin' Cajun-related--our Cajun, anyway.  Maybe Pokah, Ace, King, Jack...Ah can't decide."

            "Ace sounds good t' me, chére," Remy said from behind her.  He wrapped his arms around her waist.  "Trés happy birt'day, petite."  Rogue couldn't help but smile.

            "Thank ya, swamp rat," she cooed.  Then, remembering Jean and Kitty were most likely gawking, she added, "Now take ya filthy hands offa meh 'fore Ah get sick."

~[ 2 ]~

            Remy knew she was only putting on a show for the general public.  Rogue still didn't feel comfortable being his unofficial girlfriend in front of people, but everyone knew:  she was coming around.

            "Dat's okay, chérie.  Remy see you...tonight."  She scowled; he smirked, walking away.

~[ 2 ]~

            Rogue was treated to chocolate cake with chocolate and vanilla icing.  (It seemed everyone had a way of mocking her unique hair today.)  Afterwards they all gathered in the library and she opened presents.  She'd already gotten the one from Remy, so he didn't show.

            After the thrill of box-opening and package-tearing, everyone settled down to watch the movie Logan had gotten for Rogue:  The Silence of the Lambs.

            Remy walked in, turned off the lights, and sat behind Rogue on the floor.  He pulled her back against him, her head resting on his shoulder, and leaned back against the couch where Lauren and St. John sat cuddling.  Rogue relaxed and he draped his arms around her waist.  The kitten bounded over and curled up on the girl's lap.

~[ 2 ]~

            That night Remy came for her.

            "C'mon, petite, wake up," he whispered.  Her eyes fluttered open.  "We scheduled a rendezvous earlier, non?"  She nodded sleepily and yawned, standing and stretching.  She handed the kitten to Remy and he followed.  He helped her climb up to the roof, handed her the cat, then climbed up himself.

~[ 2 ]~

            "So what's de kitty's name?"

            "Ah've narrowed it down t' Pokah an' Ace.  Ah'm leanin' toward Ace."

            "Remind you o' better days, hahn, chére?" he chuckled.

            "What're ya talkin' 'bout, swamp rat?" she snapped.  Then, softer, "Ah can' think o' a bettah day than this."  He kissed her forehead and held her close to him.  They remained that way most of the night, the kitten pouncing on them and batting at sleeves and strings alike.  Then:

            "Sun's gon' be risin' soon.  Ready t' go back?"

            "No.  Ah wanna see the sun rise..."  She bit back the "with ya" she was tempted to add.  Remy nodded in understanding, and they watched as the sky was illumined by the glowing ball of flame that is the sun.

~[ 2 ]~