Rainy Day Road Trip by Melfina Lupin
Author's note: Thanks to all who read and reviewed! You are all greatly appreciated! I'm so sorry for the long wait! Hopefully you all still like the story and me and read! T_T I know you will all love this chapter! = D
Disclaimer: I don't own the X-men.
~*~*~*~
Chapter 7
The Problem with Crowds
Since Rogue and Kitty got back to their room late last night, they fell asleep as soon as their heads hit their pillows and stayed that way even though some unfortunately person was banging loudly on their door bright and early the next morning. The girls didn't even budge when the lock was picked and the door flew open. But Rogue did manage to open one groggy eye when her very heavy boyfriend vaulted onto her bed, landing on her and squishing her form into the mattress.
"What the hell you want, Swamp Rat?" she groaned into her pillow.
"Chere, it's Mardi Gras!" Remy told her, as excitable and happy as a child despite his earlier anguish. "Xavier wants us all downstairs so wake up!"
Rogue buried her face in her arms. "Ugh!" she moaned. "What time is it?!"
"9:30, chere! Come on, get up!" He even slapped her on the bum.
"Damn it, Remy, get off me! I'm tired! Let me sleep some more!"
"Sleep later, chere!" he urged. "It's Mardi Gras and it ends at midnight! We've only got 13 hours to party and sin like there's no tomorrow!"
Rogue sighed loudly and forced her heavy body to set up. Once that was accomplished, she fumed and glared at her handsome, smiling boyfriend. "Why are you so damn chipper this morning?" she interrogated, frowning. "Ain't you tired at all?"
Remy shook his head.
"Fine. Let me take a quick shower and get ready," Rogue said, giving in, and slowly climbed out of her nice warm bed. Across the room, Kitty was slowly waking up too.
"What's all the, like, racket?" the younger girl asked, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
Remy just grinned and tossed a string of beads at Rogue's young roommate. Kitty was startled at first but she grinned, suddenly wide-awake, and put the necklace on immediately.
"It's a gift from John," Remy told her.
Kitty laughed and jumped out of bed, energetic despite her late night. "I totally can't believe it's Mardi Gras!" she exclaimed, not really caring if Remy saw her pale pink pajamas. "Are you guys, like, going down to the parade?"
"Oui, chere. After all of us gets a fierce talkin' to from the adults downstairs."
"Really?" Kitty asked, frowning. "That's, like, so lame!"
"We'll at least their not making us tag along with them all day," Remy told her.
"Ooh, Remy, where's the best place to, like, go?" Kitty asked quickly as she hurried around the room. She looked as frantic as a chicken with its head cut off as she hurried to find something to wear.
"There's a party everywhere!" Remy told her. "You going with John?"
Kitty nodded, brushing her long hair as quickly as she could. "Yes, and with Piotr, too. Are they, like, up?"
"Yes. Their down in the lobby with everyone else."
Kitty squealed with excitement, gathered some clothes, and disappeared inside the bathroom even though Rogue was in there using the shower.
"Damn it, Kitty, what are you doing?!" Rogue shouted.
"Brushing my teeth!"
"If you flush the toilet I will kill you!"
"I won't!"
Remy laughed to himself as he sat on Rogue's bed. He couldn't leave the room or else Rogue would just fall right back to sleep. When Kitty reemerged from the bathroom she was fully dressed in a short jean skirt and a T-shirt. But instead of wearing her hair up, she had hid it all behind a cascade of hot-pink locks from a wig and coated her face with gaudy make-up and glitter.
"You look nice, chere," Remy commented, almost laughing out loud when her saw her fashionable new look.
Kitty beamed as she gathered her purse and camera. "I got it all last night. We'll see each other downstairs, right?"
"Yeah."
"Okay. See you in a few!" With a quick wave of good-bye, Kitty was flying out the door in a flash of pink.
It wasn't long before Rogue opened the door to the bathroom and backtracked into her room, rosy from her hasty shower and dressed for a day of fun. Remy tried not to gawk when she appeared.
"Chere, what's the occasion?" The words struggled to come out.
"Shut up, Remy," Rogue threw back testily as she tugged on the hem of her flighty, feminine, but dark sundress. She stood before him, head bowed as her toes dug into the carpet. "I wanted to look nice for your family," she admitted quietly as if he would tease her for her decision.
Remy couldn't help but smile, touched with her concern. "Don't worry, chere," he told her. "They couldn't tell a dress from a garbage bag…Not, that you should change or anything!" he added when he saw a look of panic run by her face briefly.
For a moment, Rogue continued to look as if she didn't believe Remy. But them she shrugged, smiling, and continued to get ready quickly. But before she could, Remy quickly grabbed her hand, pulling her down for a quick kiss. "You look beautiful, chere."
Rogue's pale cheeks blushed at the compliment but she rolled her eyes and straightened up. "Hey," she asked, "why ain't you wearing your trench coat? I've never seen you without it."
"I have to keep a low profile, chere, so I'll go without for now. Everyone knows that I never went without my trench coat. It was quite legendary."
"So, where is it?"
"John's borrowing it."
"That'll be a site to see," Rogue comment with a smile as she pulled on her shoes. "Ready to go?"
"I'll always be ready for Mardi Gras, chere."
~*~*~*~
"There will be no drinking of any alcohol, wild behavior, or inappropriate displays of the human body of any kind," Logan growled mincingly as he paced into front of the line of young mutants like a drill sergeant. "Do I make myself clear?"
The teenagers nodded their heads hastily, too intimidated by the burly man before them to want Logan to repeat anything.
He turned on them, frowning and hands on his narrow hips. "I can't hear you!" Logan snarled.
"Yes, sir!" they managed to squeak out a rather pathetic answer.
"All right, Logan, I think that is enough for now," Xavier interrupted quickly, rolling forward in his chair with Ororo right behind him. "Students, I hope you have a great day. Have fun but remember to be safe. There are many people here. I advise you all to be on your best behavior."
"Also, since there are so many people, please stay in groups and contact the professor or Jean immediately if you're lost," Ororo added. "Since this all ends at midnight, we would like you to return by then. Agreed?"
The students nodded and quickly began to chat about their day with one another since their meeting was officially over.
"Man, I'm so excited!" Kurt exclaimed as he walked away with Evan and Sam. "I can't wait to see all the floats!"
"You come here for the floats? That's so stupid!" Evan snapped back. "In Mardi Gras is all about the boobs!"
"What was that, Evan?" Unfortunately, Scott had been walking right behind them with Jean and had overheard the enthusiastic young boy.
Evan winced and glanced at Scott. "Did I say boobs? I meant floats."
Being an uptight feminist with no sense of humor, Jean rolled her eyes and walked out the hotel door in a huff.
As the rest of the eager teenagers began to filter out of the hotel lobby, Rogue stayed behind with Remy to talk with Kitty, John, and Piotr.
"We meeting for lunch right, mate?" John asked.
"Oui. At noon on the corner of Bourbon Street."
"Okay. Er, Rogue, what's got you all so worked up?"
Rouge had been laughing uncontrollably behind Remy. "Sorry," she tried to explain to John without dying of hyperventilation. "It's just that…the coat looks so funny on you. It's a little big."
Kitty quickly tried to stifle her giggles behind her hand and John turned to stare at her accusingly. "Not you too, sheila!" he shouted, shocked.
"I'm sorry, John," Kitty told him, "but Rogue has a point!"
John glared at them, thoroughly insulted.
"Play nice now, Rogue," Remy told her, wrapping and arm around her shoulder and leading her to the doorway. "See ya guys later!"
Rogue was still smiling when they walked out into the warm air and sunshine. It was a gorgeous day. The weather was perfect and not a cloud was tainting the beautiful sapphire sky above them. On the old street, many people were walking on the sidewalks. Most were tourist with bags of merchandise and cameras. They stuck out like a sore thumb when you threw them into the mix with the locals. There were so many people that it looked impossible to have any personal space. Rogue stiffened a little. She didn't handle crowds well.
As they slipped into the unbridled mob and walked down the street, towards the parade route, Rogue pressed herself close to her boyfriend and closed her eyes. She let him guide her as she just continued on her breathing and her control.
She left someone brush her naked shoulder and she had to stop herself from crying out. Maybe she should have worn something that covered her up more? Lost in a crowd this large there was no guarantee she could keep up her control. As the minutes flew by, she found herself getting warmer. Her head spun and she felt her heart pound in her chest. It felt like she was inches from blacking out.
When she finally opened her eyes, she realized that she was standing in a doorway of a building, out of the noisy crowd and hot sun. Remy was in front of her, holding her. She blinked and tried to stand up when she noticed that she was leaning against him.
"Did I black out or something?" she asked, rubbing her head.
"Yeah, for a moment," he told her. "You feeling any better?"
She nodded, slowly.
"What happened, chere?"
"I freaked about the crowd," Rogue told her, reddening with embarrassment. "I didn't realize how many people where going to be here and I started to worry about my control."
"Chere," Remy murmured, squeezing her shoulder. "You don't need to worry about that. You've always did a great job with it."
Rogue took a deep breath, trying to keep herself calm and levelheaded. "You're right," she told him. "I'm just being stupid, overacting and all. You ready to go?"
"Don't need to go anywhere," Remy told her, moving out of way so she could see passed him and into the street before the building. "The parade's right out side our doorstep."
Rogue gasped and quickly took a step forward. Throngs of people were crowded on the sidewalk below the steps, viewing the parade as float after decorated float promenaded passed them, cheering, signing, drinking, flashing, and dancing. Beads of all different sizes and colors were everywhere as the people on the floats cheered back and threw the lavished medallions to the deserving ones.
"Oh, wow!" Rogue gapped. "It's amazing!"
"Hey, there, darlin'!" A boy around her age was walking up the steps to their private gazebo. "How about a little kiss?"
Rogue drew back in disgust, smelling liquor on his breath. "How about I punch your lights out instead?"
"Come on! Please?"
"Get lost!"
The boy pouted and sulked off as his friends taunted him mercilessly.
"Man, you should have at least gave him a little peck on the cheek," Remy told her. "Brighten his day some."
She wheeled on him. "Excuse me?"
"Oh, don't worry, chere. Everyone kisses someone on Mardi Gras," he told her, wrapped his arms around her waist. "Don't mean anything personal. It's just a bit of fun."
"No offence or anything, Remy, but I'd rather like to stay away from the drunks."
"That'll be everyone, chere."
"You're not drunk."
He winked at her. "Not yet. How about a kiss for Mardi Gras?"
"Fine," she muttered. She turned her face up and felt his lips press against hers firmly.
"You can't kiss anyone else, Remy."
"What about if they start it?"
Rogue thought about it for a moment before giving in. "That's okay then I think."
"Hey, Rogue?"
"What?"
"The one who has the most kisses by the end of the day wins."
Rogue laughed out loud. "Dream on, Cajun!"
"Come on! It'll happen anyway!"
"You think you'll win?" she asked slyly.
"I don't know. You're pretty cute yourself, chere. Might give me a run for my money."
"Okay. You're on."
For the next hour, Rogue and Remy stood on the empty doorstep and watched the rowdy parade march by.
~*~*~*~
By noon, Rogue was winning 15-12 and her chest covered with a cascade of bright multicolored beads. She didn't flashed anyone but there was a rule at Mardi Gras that if the necklace fell on the ground, the person who picks it up as to give it away. To make a long story short, a lot of drunken men couldn't catch worth shit and happily shoved them towards Rogue. As the two of them forced their way down to Bourbon Street, laughing and holding onto one another, they finally found the other three.
"Hey!" Kitty greeted them, waving frantically a little ways off. John and Piotr were right behind her.
"Remy, there they are!" Rogue told him, pulling his hand and dragging him toward the trio.
"Shit, this place is just teeming with people! You had no idea what it took for us to get a good view of the parade!" John said.
"We didn't have much trouble."
"You guys ready to eat? I'm, like, totally starving!"
"Hey, Remy, where's a good place to eat?"
"There are some restaurants in Jackson Square. That ain't far from here."
"All right, then, mate! Let's go! I'm famished!"
Since Remy was the only one who knew where they were going, he led them to their destination. Since it was lunchtime, it took a while for them to get a free table and eat. It didn't take long for them to order, an hour of standing around made them all hungry to a point that they could eat anything. The food was quickly eaten and before Remy knew it, Rogue was dragging him out of the restaurant towards the Garden District after a quick good-bye to her friends.
"What's the rush, sweetheart?" Remy asked, amused.
"Nothing. I just want to see some sights before we head out to your father's."
Back inside the crowded café, Kitty and John were happy to sit down and compose themselves after a day of being squished in the throng of drunken partygoers. Not that it wasn't fun but it did take a lot out of a person.
"Hey, Piotr, where are you going?" Kitty had looked up and saw that the large Russian was on his feet.
"I want to look around some more," he replied. "Plus all the cuddling is getting to me."
Kitty instantly blushed and shoved herself off of John's lap into her own seat. "Sorry. We'll, like, quit."
"It's all right. But I'd still like to go."
"Don't do anything I won't do, mate!" John happily called out as Piotr turned and walked off. When he was gone, Kitty felt arms wrap around her. "Finally! Some time to ourselves!"
Kitty rolled her eyes and phased out of her boyfriend's arms. It was so crowded that anyone would notice.
"Hey! No fair!"
She just sent him a cute smirk and climbed to her feet. "I need to, like, go to the restroom. I'll be right back."
"Okay." John was left alone for a moment as he watched Kitty retreat.
"Excuse me," a new voice showed up.
Instantly the fiery mutant looked up and saw that a very tall woman was standing by their table. She had big blue eyes with a scar running down her left cheek, a thin mouth, and very short blond hair. She was also very tall and wore a long leather coat. John supposed she could have been beautiful at one time but now it looked like she had had a hard life. For a brief moment he wondered what the woman wanted but the stranger's surprisingly kind smile sent John's suspicious away.
"Er, yes?" John asked.
"Excuse me, I was wondering if you knew a Remy Lebeau?" She even had an accent like Remy's and despite her rough appearance, her voice, like, her smile, was kind and soft.
"How do you know Remy?" he asked, not trying to sound rude.
"We were old friends," she explained. "Is he in town? I know that trench coat from everywhere."
"Yeah, he's in town for Mardi Gras. He's a friend of mine, too."
A spark of light was immediately in the woman's eyes. "Really?"
John nodded and the woman fished something out of her coat pocket. It was a piece of paper. She shoved it into John's hand.
"Could you please take that to him?" she asked. "Please, don't read it."
Her small pout chased that temptation right out of his mind. "Wouldn't think of it," he said, putting the note in his pocket. "I'll get it to him tonight."
The woman smiled. "Thank you so much." She turned to leave.
"Hey! Can I asked you your name in case he asks?"
She turned around. "Tell him that note's from Belladonna."
~*~*~*~
"Holy shit! Remy, look at that house!"
Remy obediently looked. "Oui, chere. It's lovely."
She jabbed at his ribs for his lack of enthusiasm. "Come on, Remy! It's huge and look at all the details! Christ, millionaires must own it or something."
While Rogue was absorbed in snapping photo after photo of the large mansions of the well-to-do Garden District, Remy was bored out of his mind. Of course the stately houses were something to gawk at and admired for the first 100 times but after awhile the boredom sits in as well as the ache in his feet and the pressure in his bladder. It had been 3 hours since Rogue was dragged him into the district and at this rate, he'd doubt he would be able to drag her out.
"Come on, chere," he was almost pleading now. "It's almost five and we still gotta go see me papa."
Rogue smirked as she held the camera to her face, snapping another picture. "I think it's so cute how you say 'papa'," she muttered under her breath.
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
Remy growled. "I hate you."
"Poor baby," Rogue cooed, finally packing the camera away. "Well, I've got no more film."
"Thank God. Let's get out of here." Grabbing her hand, Remy pulled her down the sidewalk, where he hailed for a taxi.
Even though she didn't want to admit it, sitting down on cushioned leather seats after all the standing was a big relief and the cooling air conditioner felt great against her warm skin.
"Where to, sir?" the driver asked from the front seat.
"The Poisonwood bayou, s'il vous plait."
The driver nodded and pulled out into the street.
Once they left the city, the southern countryside was all Rogue saw for the rest of the trip. Not that she minded. It was beautiful and lush now that the green thumb of spring had arrived. After a while, they turned of the main strip of rode and drove down a narrow dirt route. It was long until they reached the swampy bayou and were driving through the murky air.
"You can stood up ahead," Remy told the driver.
Once they were parked, Remy paid the man and climbed out of the car while Rogue quickly followed. Once they were out, the cab rolled down the road and disappeared.
The air was very thick and humid in the bayou as Rogue glanced around at the dark swamps and the bending trees. Oddly it felt like home. Instantly, Remy was at her side, holding her hand.
"My papa's house is just across the lane, chere," he told her, leading her through the swampland.
She followed him closely, not daring to fall into the patches of water that were hidden in the wet ground. After walking a couple of steps, Rogue looked forward and saw a small house.
"That your house, Remy?"
"Oui. Lovely, ain't it?"
Since it was dark in the bayou, the lights burning in the house were as clear as day. As they drew closer, Rogue could see two figures move out onto the porch. Rogue tired to swallow her nervousness that gnawed at her stomach without mercy but it wouldn't go away. A couple of more feet, she could make out the figures. One was an old patrician-looking man with graying hair and a younger man in his early 30's. They didn't look very pleased.
Remy paused before the porch steps. He was grinning like a fool despite the vicious glares being shot his way from the two older men.
"Well, ain't you going to welcome me home, papa?"
The older man, obviously Remy's father, scoffed and crossed his arms over his chest.
"My roof needs fixing, boy."
"What?!" Remy shouted. "I didn't come all the way down here to fix your fucking roof!"
The man looked even more displeased. Rogue quickly took note of him. He was handsome and so was the man standing next to him. They looked related. The younger man was no doubt Henri. Feeling a pair of eyes on him, he turned and caught Rogue staring at him. He blinked twice before smacking his father in the arm.
"Shit, Henri!"
"Remy, who be that fille peeking up behind you?"
"That's Rogue," a new voice spoke up. Rogue looked up in surprise and saw Leis was walking out onto the porch, smiling down at the newcomers. "Remy's girlfriend from New York."
She immediately relaxed, seeing the familiar face.
"Come on, Rogue, let's head inside," Leis told her. "You can help me inside while these men fight."
"Fight?"
"Were not fighting," Remy's father informed Leis but the younger girl just laughed.
"Whatever Uncle Jean Luc. Come one, Rogue."
She didn't want to move a budge.
"Remy?" Jean Luc said.
"What?"
"Help Henri. Then I want to talk to you."
Remy growled.
Jean Luc smiled and shrugged. "You'll help and that's that," he replied before moving into the house. Leis was laughing as she walked down the steps grabbed Rogue's hand, and pulled her inside the house as well.
"Well, it could have been worse," Leis announced as she closed the door front door.
Rogue bit her lower lip. Outside she could her Remy argue with his brother while she watched as the tall Jean Luc march out of the front room, muttering darkly about his thickheaded son.
Leis saw her worry and smiled comfortingly. "Don't worry, sugar," she said, patting Rogue's shoulder. "The Lebeau men are known for their gruff manner. But deep down inside they are as harmless as kittens. Jean Luc and Henri are both glad to see Remy."
"Damn it, Leis. Quit putting words into my mouth!" the older Lebeau yelled from elsewhere in the house. "My son is more trouble than his worth, tracking down here as if his life wasn't in danger! Fucking irresponsible! I'll kill him myself!"
"Yup," Leis sighed. "Just one big softie."
Jean Luc walked back into the room, holding a hammer in his hands. "Don't spread no lies, girl."
"Shut up, uncle!" Leis laughed, not at all offended by the man harsh manner. "I know you're happy to see Remy again. How long has it been?"
"…Almost 3 years," the man replied, his voice softening. He walked to the door, but not going outside until he had kissed Leis on her forehead and Rogue on her hand. "We're just giving Remy some shit. Don't worry about it too much," he told her, grinning before exiting.
"Lord, you guys are a strange family," Rogue sighed once the door was shut again.
Leis beamed. "Don't I know it!" she replied as she walked into the kitchen. "Come one, Rogue. I need some help in here. You ever cooked for 3 hungry men before?"
"No," she admitted nervously, following the older girl into a humble kitchen.
"Well now's a great time to learn!"
~*~*~*~
Two hours later, Leis had sat a large pot of steaming jambalaya, a roasted chicken, as while as a loaf of freshly backed bread on to the round table that Rogue had prepared, lying down the tablecloth as well as cups, plates, and utensils. Everything was wonderfully mismatched and well used, so until the stainless dinnerware at the Institute. At first Rogue felt out of place in the small kitchen but Leis was sure to pull her into the warm, homey atmosphere.
It felt like home after a while.
Rouge wore an old apron and her hair was tied back to keep out of her way as she worked. Overhead she could hear the constant pounding of hammers as the 3 men worked on the roof. She didn't dare close her eyes, fearing that she would just imagine that this was her kitchen and Remy was working on their roof. Pretty soon he would come down and walk into the kitchen and smile, smelling the scent of the dinner she had carefully cooked for them and looking worn after a hard day of work. He'd wrap her in his arms and kiss her like a starving man as their son…
"Good lord, you ain't pregnant, are you?!"
Leis surprised voice pulled Rogue out of her dream. Confused, Rogue blinked. Shit! She had closed her eyes.
"What?" Her pregnant? She stared at Leis as if the woman has lost her mind. "No way!"
"I just saw you holding on to your belly and, well, I thought…"
Rogue looked down and saw that her hand was placed on her abdomen. She blushed and quickly took it off. "I ain't pregnant," she insisted.
"Oh," Leis sighed in relief. "Not that I wouldn't want you to be! I mean, Remy's young and all but he would be a good father."
"We're not having children."
Leis look confused. "Why not?"
"Er…because we not were not married? And were too young anyway."
"But what about in a few years? You guys look really in love. Has he asked to marry you yet?"
"What?!"
Leis looked shocked and a little disappointed. "He hasn't?"
Rogue numbly shook her head.
"Oh. I thought he would…Shit! Forget I said anything. I usually speak my mind without thinking."
"Leis, what did you do this time?" Jean Luc asked, walking into the kitchen with Henri and Remy in tow.
The woman spun around. "Nothing! Wash up before you sit down, all of you. You stink like hell."
"Yes, ma'am!" Jean Luc and Henri moved to the sink and started to run the water.
Immobile where she stood, Rogue was looking up, trying to ignore the presence of a certain Cajun who was staring at her from the doorway. She didn't know what would happen if she did. Her mind was a mess of unwanted thoughts that Leis words and her own imagination had put in there.
But she couldn't hold out long and turned to look at him. She felt her face catch on fire when she saw that he had shed his shirt and was leaning against the frame, sweat glistening in the warm light of the kitchen that slung shadows on his sinewy muscles.
She gulped.
He smirked, amused at her state of wariness. "You gonna put that pitcher of water down or are you gonna stand there all night, sugar?"
Rogue quickly looked down, saw the pitcher, and quickly set it down. She could help as her trembling hands almost made her drop it.
Instantly Remy's hands were on hers, steadying her. "Easy, chere," he whispered.
"Sorry," she dumbly before taking a step back from the table. He followed her.
"What's wrong?"
Damn him, Rogue glowered. He knows damn well what's going on and he's only making it worse!
"Nothing," she replied, her voice strained.
He smirked and touched a hand to her face.
Damn him! Damn him! Why do I love him? I can't help myself! No matter what I do, I can't stop loving this man! Even if he lied to me about Belle, I can't make myself stop loving him! God, I want to kiss him! Fuck, and his father is right there! Fuck! This is so embarrassing! I'm gonna hit that gorgeous face of his!
"Remy, stop bothering the girl and wash up!" Rogue heard Leis say but they both acted as if they didn't hear her.
Remy just smiled down at Rogue.
God, I want to live my life with this man!
A cold shocked ran through her body, shattering her thoughts immediately.
"Remy? Did you hear me?"
"Yeah, hold on, damn it!" Remy turned away and moved to the sink.
Without his support, Rogue felt herself totter a little before falling backwards.
"Shit! Rogue!"
She didn't feel herself hit the ground before she blacked out.
~*~*~*~
Rogue moaned softly as she came to. Feeling a little drowsy, she opened her unfocused eyes and try to remember where she was. At first she couldn't see anything but then her eyes adjusted. She saw Remy first. She automatically smiled up at him as he exhaled and bent down to kissed her forehead.
"God, don't scare me like that again!"
"What happened?" she asked.
"You fainted, chere."
Rogue frowned. "I did? Where am I?"
"My papa's bedroom," Remy told her.
It was then that she realized that she was lying down on a soft bed in a small, cozy bedroom. She immediately wanted to fall asleep but she knew she shouldn't. Instead she sighed and tried to sit up.
"Chere?"
"S'okay, Remy," she muttered. "It'll help clear my head."
He nervously helped her up, wrapping her arms around her to keep her still. Rogue closed her eyes, and rubbed her hands over her face.
"How long was I out?"
"A couple of minutes."
"Feels like I've been asleep forever," she mumbled, finally looking up at him.
"Don't ever faint on me again," he ordered. "My heart won't take it. Jesus, I thought you were dead or something. What happened to you?"
She dug her elbow into his ribs. It was partly his fault for her fainting anyway. At least he had the decency to cover up now. "I was just thinking some stuff," she told him. "And you weren't helping at all."
"Thinking about what?"
She shook her head, stopping the tears from surfacing just in time. "Just something…I'll tell you later."
She was a liar. She'd never tell him what she had realized. He'd probably run for the hills like all guys afraid of commitment. Why should she tell him that she wanted to marry him anyway? That would be kind of wrong since his first wife was still around. Plus Remy never said anything about being something more than boyfriend/girlfirend. She wondered if he even thought about it. She would be a college freshman in the fall.
What did their futures hold for them?
"Chere, you look pale. Why don't you rest some more?"
She forced a smile. "I'm fine, Remy. Let's eat. I'm starving." She was on her feet and out the door before he could stop her.
~*~*~*~
Henri didn't hold himself back when he stretched and let out a ground shaking belched after dinner. "Damn," he exclaimed. "That was a mighty fine meal, ladies."
Leis shot him a nasty glare while Remy just snickered at his brother's lack of manners.
"Why don't you act like a gentleman for once, Henri?" Leis asked.
"Thieves are never gentleman unless duty class for it, cousin," he laughed, picking up his plates and putting them in the sink.
Jean Luc rolled his eyes and started to clear the table, kicking Remy under the table to get him to follow his example. Rogue heard Remy sigh as he stood up and helped. She shot Leis a questioning look.
"Lebeau rule," she replied, smiling. "If a woman makes the dinner in this house, the men clean it up."
"I like that rule," Rogue admitted. At the Institute, Logan's claws were the only things that made the boys clean the dinner table. It was a little refreshing to see that some men weren't afraid of 'womanly' chores.
Rogue winced when she heard a violent clatter of dishes and a hissed, "Damn it, Henri, don't drop the fucking plates!"
She laughed quietly at the badgering teasing and asked, "It doesn't happen often does it-women cooking in this house?"
Leis shook her head. "Nah. I only came by because I knew you two would be coming. So of course Uncle Jean Luc forced me into cooking something for them."
"Remy, just where to you think you're going?"
"I'm going to take a walk with my fille before it gets too dark," he told his brother, moving towards Rogue and helping her out of her seat. "Come one, chere. There's something I want to show you."
"Okay."
"Henri," he called over his shoulder as they walked out of the warm kitchen. "I'm taking your bike."
"You get her dirty and you're dead meat, Remy Etienne!" his brother replied from the sink.
Remy made an obscene gesture with his hand as he led Rogue into the living room and outside on the porch. She laughed softly once the door was closed.
"What is it, chere?"
"I like your family."
~*~*~*~
"What do you want to show me, Remy?" Rogue asked, as they drove through the quietly countryside as evening slowly settled round them.
He grinned, his eyes forced on the ragged route. "You'll just have to wait and see, chere."
On the narrow road, lithe willow trees blew in the wind on either side of them, but through the spaces between the trunks, Rogue could see out into the vast backcountry.
"We're really out in the middle of nowhere," she muttered to herself.
"About 45 miles from the city," Remy told her. "Were almost there."
He sounded a little nervous to her.
They drove passed an ancient 'For Sale' sign before coming to a stop in front of a tall pair of stone pillars, the iron gate having rusted and fallen off years earlier. Rogue gawked up at the entrance as Remy shut the small black bike down. He swung a long leg over the seat and stood up.
"Come on, Rogue," Remy said, taking off her helmet. "You'll miss everything sitting in there."
Rogue quickly clamored off the bike. The cool twilight air caught her hair and her dress, tugging them gently with invisible fingers. She looked around, confused. They were in the middle of nowhere before an old stone gate. What was going on?
"Remy, where are we?"
Instead of answering, Remy smiled and grabbed her hand, pulling her around the car and through the entrance. About thirty yards away stood a massive house, the main part of a forgotten plantation. Unfortunately it looked as if no one had lived there since the Civil War and was completely in ruins. The frame was still enormous and strong, however, holding the house together despite time and neglect. If Rogue put her mind to it, she could looked passed the broken windows, rusted galleries, overgrown weeds, splintered columns, and pilling paint, too see how the house once stood.
The sight was oddly beautiful and a little sad.
"Remy?"
"Come on, chere," he whispered, pulling her down the same path horse-drawn buggies must have used to move people to and from the mansion. They walked in silence until they stood a couple of feet before the structure.
"She's beautiful. Just the way I remember her," Remy mused.
Rogue looked over at him, wanting him to explain himself but not sure how to ask.
"I'm going to buy her one day and fix her up real good," Remy told her, looking down at her and smiling tenderly. "I want to raise my family here."
The emotions in his face left Rogue speechless. All she could do was hold on to Remy's hand.
"The first time I saw her, I knew that she was going to be my family's house," he went on, now looking at the weather-beaten dwelling. "She's big and sturdy and with the money and the right tools, she'll be fit to live in. There are enough rooms to raise kids, a big yard for them to play in, and even a ballroom for the mistress of the house to throw parties in and a kitchen to cook hand-made meals in. It'll be a good home." Remy glanced down at her. "Build it with me?"
Rogue was taken back, breathless from shock. "What do you mean?"
"I want to live my life here with you, chere," he told her.
"Are you asking me-to marry you?"
"Yes."
"…Oh…"
Rogue fainted for the second time that day.
To be continued…=)
Author's Note: God, it took me forever to start and finish this chapter! I'm sorry for making you all wait but I had to go back to college on the 11th and I'm still adjusting to life. I wanted to split this chapter is half but I decided to give you guys a treat and make it one deliciously long chapter. ^_____^ Do you forgive me for making you all wait? Honestly, I really love this chapter. It was so fun to write and a nice break away from some serious shit that will happen in the next part. Ominous? Me? Never! Well I hoped you enjoyed this and please review!