II
"Momma, Momma, Momma! Wake up, Waaaake up!"
Rogue woke slowly, vaguely aware that her bed was being shaken by an unseen force, and rolled over with a groan as the bright morning light hit her eyes mercilessly through her open curtains. With a muttered curse she flipped the pillow over her head and tried in vain to go back to sleep. "Trey, Momma is sleeping, go back to bed okay?" She said from under her pillow.
"Nope", he said, crawling up onto the bed with her, and trying look under the pillow at her. "Its time to get up, up, up!"
Rogue looked out from the pillow into her son's dark eyes and then looked at the clock, groaning when she saw it only read 6:45 AM. "Sugah it's too early to get up", she said drawing him down beside her, "Lets go back to sleep okay? You can even stay in here if you want to." At that point she'd have done anything so she could get another hours sleep up to and including promising visits from Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy.
Trey laughed, "Come on Momma, up!" He said shaking her bed again and for a moment she wondered where her sweet innocent obedient child had gone, in his place was a little demon in Spider-Man Pajamas. "Papa says you have five minutes to get up or he's coming in after you"
Bingo!
She smiled and rolled over on her side, as she woke up fully. "Sugah, daddy isn't here, he's in his room across the hall."
"No he's not." Trey said crossing his arms across his chest and looking so much like his father it was shocking.
Rogue's patience was starting to thin but she just smiled patently and ruffled his hair "Sweetie he doesn't have a key to get in here, I didn't give him one."
Rapidly her grin faded, this was Remy Lebeau, master thief and pickpocket they was talking about after all, the last thing he'd ever need to get into her rooms was a key.
She rolled her eyes up to the ceiling praying for strength and turned back to her son. "Tell him I'll be out a minute."
"Okay," Tray turned and jumped off the bed, running out of the room in his pajamas, in the direction he'd first came from.
With a groan Rogue rolled over and seriously considered going back to sleep but she knew it was too late for that hope. She also knew that Trey spoke the truth, and that if Remy came into get her, it would be far less pleasant then Trey waking her.
Or things would go in another direction completely, equally as bad at the moment, and she'd be up the Ol' Mississippi without a paddle and back with a Cajun in her bed.
Getting up was seeming better and better.
With a sigh, she rolled out of bed and looked for her robe to cover the silk pair of navy pajamas she was wearing, remembering she'd left it in the living room the night before after she'd fallen asleep on the couch after putting Trey to bed. She cursed her breath and slipping her feet into a pair ballet slippers, turned to leave then remembered to grab a pair of gloves off of the dresser where she kept them because Remy was there.
With a yawn concealed by a gloved hand she left her room, and a moment later emerged into the living room and kitchenette areas that Xavier had had deigned in all the staff rooms for the team members with families. Namely, Rogue, Scott and Jean and their respective children. He stated that it was in case they wanted privacy; Rogue thought it was because he didn't like to see how messy small children were when they ate. For the most part, Rogue didn't use the kitchen much, preferring that she and Trey eat with the others downstairs, so they could socialize over breakfast with the others. Today however she was greeted with the sight of Trey sitting at the kitchen table, munching on a bowl of cereal and the still shocking sight of Remy LeBeau cooking in her kitchen. He was dressed in a pair of jeans and a green shirt, currently with the sleeves rolled up past his elbows and a dish towel thrown over his shoulder, stirring something in her frying pan.
He'd been back a week and she still wasn't used to the fact he was home. She felt sure half of the time, she was going to turn around and find that he was gone again, or worse that her stress addled mind had finally lost it and that he'd never been back at all, that he was just a figment of her imagination. A hallucination of some sort brought on by lack of caffeine and sleep. Trey on the other hand was rapidly adjusting to the fact he now had a father like most of the other kids at the school, Remy had been by at least once a day to see him and he'd even taken to coming up at night to help Rogue put him to bed.
An uneasy truce that bordered on attraction had been called between Remy and Rogue. They'd both agreed to lay old issues aside, start with a clean slate and see how things worked out, mostly for Trey's sake if for nothing else. That was what Rogue kept telling herself to resist Remy's charms, instead of blurting out the three words that she was dying to say: I need you.
He looked up as she stumbled in and gave her one of his best seductive smiles, the one she was still avoiding at the best of times, and afraid of at the worst of times. "Mornin chere" he said cocking his head at her and appraising her for a moment. "Sleep well?"
"Ingmf" She muttered, waving a hand at him absently and pulling her hair off her neck with the other, suddenly aware she was clad in only a thin pair of blue silk pajama pants and a thin silk t-top, with no bra on underneath.
" Remy's gonna take that as a yes", he said watching as she went over to the couch and grabbed her robe, pulling it on much to his disappointment and belting it tightly around her. "Because his skills in sleeping Rogue language be a little bit rusty"
He gestured to Trey with a spatula, who was happily engrossed in eating a bowl of, what if Rogue guessed correctly, was oatmeal with brown sugar. "Da boy likes the same cereal as me in da morning"
"He'll eat cardboard in the morning as long as you put sugah on it", she said, rubbing her temples and squinting at him through sleepy eyes. "Don't take it as a complement"
He nodded with a laugh and continued to stir what was in the pan. "Remy remember dat, might be interesting to try in da future."
"How'd you get in?" she asked then shook her head and held up a hand to stop him as he opened his mouth to speak. "Don't tell me, it involved a lock pick and using my son as a look out so I didn't wake up, didn't it Cajun?"
He smiled guilty at her. "Just wanted to surprise you chere." he said "Hope dat's alright with you."
She eyed the steaming coffee pot from where she was standing at the kitchen doorway. "If that's coffee in that pot then your home free." she said going to the cupboard and pulling a cup from it.
"Decaf", he said watching as she poured herself a mug.
Rogue sighed and winced as she added cream and milk. "You've been talking to Jean again haven't ya Sugah?"
"Yup.", he said, shaking the frying pan a bit then glancing back to her. "She's worried about you Rogue."
"Nothin to be worried about" Rogue said as she took a sip of her coffee and grimaced at the difference in taste, then changing the subject quickly. "Ya know Ah didn't even drink decaf when Ah was pregnant." she said setting her cup aside and leaning against the counter next to him.
"Non?" he asked.
"Nope", she said "No Decaf or herbal teas, Ah figured, he's gonna get addicted to soda by the time he's a teenager anyways, so what it did it matter." she sighed "One little slip on a monitor and now Ah'm riding the train to Decaf-Ville without a return ticket."
Remy grinned and indicated to the pan he was holding. "Go have a seat; Remy'll bring this to ya when it's ready."
"Oh Sugah", she said, guilt washing though her. "Ah normally just grab a piece of fruit for breakfast nowadays."
"Nope", he said "Not today P'tite. Remy made ya a good old southern breakfast, just like home. Grits, eggs and sausages, it be ready in a minute." he gestured to the table "Go have a seat girl, Remy bring it to ya like he said."
Her stomach growled at the thought of having a good breakfast for a change instead of an apple or orange on the go to the Danger Room. She knew how good a cook Remy was, having fallen in love with his grits and sausages, at almost the same time she'd fallen in love with him. "Alright", she said conceding defeat, and heading for her seat. "Thank you."
"Not a problem chere." he said approaching the table with two plates, he'd just filled. One he set in front of her and the other he dug into himself. With another sigh of defeat Rogue dug in, enjoying herself more then she'd ever admit, and decided having a Cajun around the house might not be such a bad idea.
"This is good." She said, gesturing to her plate. "Ah've forgotten how good a cook you are Sugah." This was a bald face lie but she wasn't about to tell him that or that she'd missed him or that she wanted him or… Her mind trailed off at all the other options that she could think off.
"Thank ya." he said taking a sip of his own coffee. "Betcha its better then the cooking downstairs"
"Who's cooking today?" she asked. The team took turns cooking for each other one day a week, and some days were noticeably better then others when it came to getting edible meals.
"Jubilee.", he said and watched as Rogue winced over a bit of Grits. "That bad huh?"
"Let's just say it's probably your stomach's sense of natural preservation that gave you the idea to cook breakfast today." She said with a laugh as she took a drink of juice. "Ah mean don't get me wrong, Jubes is a great friend, but sugah, she is one lousy cook. Jean I'll be handing out Tums all day from the infirmary."
He laughed, and gestured to her plate.
"Ya want some more." he asked rising.
Rogue looked down at her plate, taken aback to see it was empty, and shook her head. "No thanks Sugah", she said "Ah'm full."
She rose beside him, noticing Trey was done as well. "Ah can help you with the dishes though."
Remy shook his head "Nope, Trey and I can do them."
"You can.", she said in disbelief.
"I can.", Trey said visibly dismayed.
"We can", Remy said firmly to Trey "And dat's what we're gonna do while your mama has a shower." He gestured to her as he carried the last of the dishes away. "Go get a shower chere, dat way we can be in da Danger room when the others get dare."
Rogue wasn't gonna look a gift horse in the mouth, normally morning were rushed and she didn't get a chance to take a shower until late afternoon. "Ah right", she said watching as Remy picked Trey up on one arm easily and carried him into the kitchenette, setting him on the counter next to the sink when he reached it. Remy reached around Trey for a moment and turned on the small radio she kept in the kitchen, tuning to some twangy county station before turning the water in the sink on. Marie watched silently for a moment as Remy began to show Trey how he could help with the drying, then with a smile she turned and headed for her bathroom and the shower.
Once inside she turned the water on full blast, and stripping quickly stepped into the spray. She felt her body relax as she began to soap her hair and she let her mind wander to the day ahead, she had training, then she had to start her lesson plans for the up coming year because she only had a month until classes started again, then in the afternoon she had to go into town and do some shopping because both Scott and Kitty's birthdays were in the up coming weeks.
A crash sounded from the kitchen causing her to jump and drop the shampoo bottle she'd been holding. "What was that?" she called out to them as she retrieved it and began to rinse her hair, hoping it wasn't one of her favorite dishes.
"Nothing.", Both Trey and Remy called back in unison.
With a sigh, she finished washing, and grabbing a towel stepped out of the shower. She rubbed at her hair vigorously then wrapped another towel around her as she headed towards her room to get dressed. Hearing nothing from the living room, she headed to take a quick peek and almost plowed right into Remy as he came out of Trey's room. She yelped, jumping back quickly aware that a good portion of her skin was bare and gripped at her towel.
Remy smiled at her as she blushed, pushing her damp hair over her neck, not noticing she was baring one lovely shoulder for Remy to see. "Nice outfit chere." He gestured over his shoulder. "Trey's dressed and ready to go to the daycare when ever you are."
She nodded, turning towards her room. "Give me ten minutes and I'll be ready too."
After a thought she stopped, and turned back, knowing he was still watching her. She brushed by him carefully and grabbed something out of the small table she kept in the hall then turned back to him. "Here.", she said tossing her spare keys at him.
He caught them cleanly, twirling them on a finger as he apprised her up and down. "What dis be for chere?"
"So you don't have to pick the lock again to get in again." she said, heading towards her room and not looking back.
Twenty minutes later, not ten, she was ready to go. She hurried out of her room to find Remy seated at the kitchen table with Trey. He was reading the paper while Trey colored in one of his coloring books. "Ah right", she said as she came into the room, dressed her work out cloths. "Let's get this show on the road."
She pulled her hair high up on her head in a pony tail, as she spoke, and turned to Trey '"Did you feed your fish this morning?" She asked him, and Remy wondered if she knew how young she looked. In the one piece black workout suit she was wearing, with her hair piled up on her head, she looked like no more then a teenager even though he knew she was actually twenty-seven.
"Uh huh." Trey said as he tossed his crayons aside and ran over to her while Remy followed.
" Good.", she said, picking up his backpack and handing it to him as the trio headed out the door. She turned and locked it, just as Jubilee came out of her room down the hall. Rogue was about to call out to her when to her surprise, Logan followed her out, buttoning his shirt as he went and the pair of them walked down the hall together , hand in hand before separating and heading towards the Danger room in different directions. " Well", Rogue said turning to Remy, seeing he was as taken back as she was. " They seem to be getting along fine."
"I'll say." he said as they progressed down the hall towards the daycare.
Scott and Jean were the only ones in the Danger Room when Remy and Rogue arrived , sitting on one of the benches, locked in a kiss that was so hot that Rogue was surprised that the smoke detectors didn't go off. They broke apart as the two southerners approached them, and Jean slid off of Scotts lap guilty. Rogue almost let out a frustrated sigh. Was every adult in the Mansion getting some besides her? She thought, hell, Jean and Scott have two kids and they were still going at it hot and heavy. She caught Jean's eye as she thought this and was rewarded with a half grin and a chuckle from her best friend. Rogue caught Remy glancing between her and Jean and wondered if he had some inking of what she had thought. He raised his eyebrows at her, then picking up her gloved hand ,he kissed it before silently heading to the locker rooms to change into his own training cloths.
Jean and Scott both turned to her at the same time with questioning gazes as they watched him walk off. " Don't", she said raising hand and giving a shake of her head. " Even ask."
" Didn't say a word.", Jean said with a laugh as Wolverine and Jubilee came into the room from separate door ways. They were followed closely by , Kitty and Beast. Seeing Remy, NightCrawler and Bobby emerging from the locker room, Scott stood.
"All right", he called to the assembling group, looking up at the glass paned room several feet up where he knew the Professor was watching them, even if they couldn't see him. " Team form up, let's get things underway here."
" Rogue help, Jubilee!", Jean called as she dodged a stimulated Sentinel and telekinetically brought it down. Remy immediately threw a charged card at it and it exploded, disappearing from the stimulation. She stood, free for the moment and watched as before Rogue could help, Wolverine had intercepted the solider Jubilee was having trouble with and the two of them brought him down in a shower of multicolored sparks and metal. Rogue, for her part, was helping Scott take down stimulated versions of Sabertooth and Magneto. They were fighting back to back, and as she watched she could see that Rogue was close to taking Sabertooth down while Scott was getting there with Magneto. An hour and a half into their daily training, things were going well for the most part, it seemed.
Seeing Beast was in need of help, Jean turned her attention back to what was going on around her and what needed to be done.
Rogue took another flying swipe at Sabertooth, watched as he disappeared from the stimulation with satisfaction. She didn't have time to think as another of the Brotherhood swooped in on her, and she took a punch at him. She lost her footing for a moment , missing to her surprise as she stumbled and backed up as he closed in on her. A charged card flew by her, exploding close to the other mutant, and an instant later Remy was there as she righted herself.
"Ya all right chere." he said as she steadied herself.
"Just Peachey, Sugah." she said, rising into the air and sending a kick at the stimulated mutent, sending him flying backwards, as one of his friends decided to join in. Soon she and Remy were fighting side by side as she worked with her strength and he with his cards and his Bo' Staff, not realizing how much time had pasted until Rogue heard Scott called out.
"End stimulation."
Immediately Rogue and Gambit stopped fighting as Scott called the training program to an end and they began to re-group in the Danger room's center.
"That was good." Scott said, letting the group catch their breath for a moment as they listened. " Everyone's showing real improvement with the new battle scenarios . Now for the rest of today's session I want to move on to some new hand to hand to hand combat drills, so if everyone could partner up…"
As she left the Danger Room after the day's session was over, Rogue yawned and pushed her hair out of her her eyes. She was hot, tired and all she wanted to do was go back to bed and sleep but she still had work to do, and shopping to get done. As she hurried she wondered if she had time for another quick shower before she left for the mall, vetoing the idea of working on her lesson plans for yet another day with a resigned sigh.
After she'd changed from her work out cloths to a black leather skirt and a blue v-neck t-shirt with a full black body stocking underneath, she started up the hall, deciding that a trip to the mall was just what she needed to relax. Since Trey was in the day care for the day she didn't have to worry about a sitter and since for the present moment there were no missions planned, or crisis to deal with, knock on wood, she was on her own.
She stopped and knocked on Ororo's office door, deciding to see if there was anything she could pick up for the school, knowing she was in charge of the necessities the students needed in the school's dorms. Without waiting for an answer Rogue entered the office, not surprised to see Storm up to her neck in paperwork at her desk. "Hey", she said dropping down across from her friend.
"Hello", Storm said, dropping her pen. "What's up?"
Ororo was currently dealing with the flood of new students for the new school year, and deciding where they should be housed. With more and more mutants having children of their own and wanting their children to have a safe education, free of persecution, the school was expanding every year, and while space was still plentiful, the age gaps in the students sometimes made things difficult if one age group out numbered the rest.
"Ah was just wondering if there was anything Ah could pick up in town for the kids, since Ah'm heading that way." Rogue said, fiddling with a pen from the desk as she spoke. "Ah don't mind at all, it'll give me an excuse to shop longer."
"Actually", Storm said rising and grabbing a piece of paper off of a filing cabinet by the window. "There is some stuff, most for the girls, that I'd really appreciate if you'd pick up. I've been so busy I haven't had the time to go shopping at all." She handed the list to Rogue. "Do you want some students to help you, I'm sure I can round a few up who'd like to go into town."
Rogue shuddered, remembering the last time she'd taken the students shopping and the nightmare that had ensued. "No thanks." She said "Ah'd rather keep my sanity intact." She accepted the gold card Storm offered to pay for the schools purchases and leaned back in her chair, relaxing for a moment.
Storm leaned on the desk, her work forgotten. "So how are things going between you and Remy?"
"Storm!" Rogue said with a laugh.
"What?" the White Witch said innocently. "I'm curious, that's all."
Rogue sighed and shook her head playfully "Fine Ah guess, he made me breakfast this morning."
"Really?" Storm said "I had no idea you two were that close again."
"We're not" Rogue said stoically. "He snuck in and made it to surprise me. Aided and abetted it appears by our three year old."
She sighed, and rubbed her temples with a gloved hand then looked at her friend. "Ah don't know Ororo, Ah keep telling myself Ah won't fall for him again, Ah'll just get hurt , Ah'll stop loving him, but still…" She stopped for a moment then looked up at here friend. "Ah like havin him around, a lot, Ah feel safer with him around and Ah know Ah could get use to him again so easily and lose my heart. Ah hell, Ah don't know anything anymore"
"Well" Storm said with a soft smile. "If you want the opinion of an honest source, it sounds to me like you lost your heart to that leap along time ago, my friend. Now all you have to do is let your body and mind take the final fall, and join it."
"Your right, of course" Rogue said rising and heading for the door. "The question is do I have the strength to open my arms and take that final jump and… will he be there to catch me if I do?" With that she turned and left the room before Storm could give her an answer to her question.
With a groan, thinking of what Storm had said, as she slipped on her sun glasses, Rogue headed for the garage, deciding to take her Caddie for a change, instead of the SUV she normally drove. As she entered the dimly lit garage, to her surprise Remy and Scott were there talking as Scott tried to fix something in his Benz.
"Hey chere", Remy called raising an arm in greeting. "Where ya be headed?"
"Town", she called back as she headed towards her car. "Gotta pick some stuff up for the students."
"Need an escort?" he said, straightening up from his position, leaning on the Benz's side.
"Sure" Rogue said, her heart picking up at the thought of spending part of the day with Remy, away from the school and their responsibilities. "If ya'll want to go."
"Of course", He said. "Any thing to spend time with ma belle cherie", he turned to Scott; tossing him the rag he'd been holding. "See ya later, at dinner, Cykes"
Cyclops nodded and turned back to the car's carburetor. "Yeah, see ya guys later."
Rogue slid behind the Caddie's driver seat while Remy climbed into the passenger's side. "So we headed to da mall then?" he said watching as she put the car's top down.
"Yup", she said "Ah got some shoppin to do for the students, and then Ah have a few things to pick up for my self." She pulled out of the garage, reaching over and turning the radio on to a country station as they cruised along.
For the first time Remy noticed Trey wasn't with them, he'd become so used to seeing Trey with Rogue all the time, he'd just expected him to go to town with her. "Where is da little one?' he asked, glancing over his shoulder at the empty back seat.
"Daycare still." she said "Ah don't have to pick him up until five, so Ah've got five hours yet to shop." She smiled at Remy, knowing shopping wasn't his favorite thing to do. "Think you can handle it?"
Remy smiled, wondering what the hell he was getting himself into, and nodded patiently. " Remy thinks he can."
"Good", she said, cruising around a corner. "Cause if ya can't keep up with me then your on own Swamp Rat."
"Remy can keep up just fine, lil' River Rat", he said smoothly. "If ya remember."
Rogue blushed, she had the feeling shopping was the last he was talking about. She decided to play along for the moment and not clue him in that her blood was currently on fire. "Ah remember Sugah", she said looking at him sideways. "Don't think I could ever forget."
She watched as Remy leaned back in his seat surprised, but a satisfied expression soon spread across his face and she wondered if what she'd said was the right thing for the moment. "Remy's glad it was memorable chere."
Great just what she needed.
A Cocky Cajun.
She took another corner fast and watched as Remy reached out and grabbed the dashboard before shooting her a look. "You still drive da same Rogue", he said as the color returned to his face. "Reckless as ever."
"Not normally", she said playfully "Just thought Ah'd give you a thrill."
"Chere", he said, dead serious and she had the feeling that they were headed into dangerous waters if they continued this way. "If ya want to give Remy a thrill, he can think of better ways you could do it."
Rogue whimpered softly, praying he didn't here her, and decided to concentrate on the road even though she could feel his dark eyes penetrating her as she did so. This wasn't how she'd planned things to turn out, that was for sure.
She felt a breath of relief as the mall came into view a few moments later, and for once was relived to be a mutants in a crowed of mostly humans. At least while they were in the mall she could concentrate on other things besides the fact that her senses were humming and her body ached in ways it hadn't it years.
"Here we are." she said pulling into the parking lot and trying to find the nearest spot she could. Her car suddenly seemed too cramped and confined for the two of them in her opinion, she wanted out as soon as possible. She pulled into an available spot and stopped the car, parking carefully. "Let's go."
"Whatever you say P'tite" He said as they both got out of the car and started for the shopping centre.
When they'd reached it, he opened the door for her and they both stepped inside the crowed building. "Where to first?" he asked as the air conditioning hit them with a welcome blast.
"Ah have to pick up a book I ordered for Kitty's birthday", Rogue said heading in the direction of the bookstore. "And then Ah have to find something for Scott's since their only four days apart."
"Let's add a trip to da hobby shop upstairs to da agenda", he said winding a strong arm around her waist protectively and pulling her close as they walked, amid the other couples out shopping. "Remy needs to get some more playing cards, my last ones went this morning in training"
"Alright", she said as the neared the bookstore. "But don't let me forget to pick up the stuff on my list or else Storm will have my head on plate for others to view."
An hour later, she'd picked up Kitty's book and a CD set for Scott, she knew he'd been looking for and the novelty of shopping for an afternoon was wearing off. Rogue drifted from shop to shop idly, eventually buying a new long leather skirt and a couple of bell sleeved tops, a book set she'd wanted, and a new toy for Trey but her heart wasn't in it. She missed Trey something fierce, even if she was away for only part of an afternoon and he didn't even know she was gone. It always happened that way for her, she could wish for time alone all she wanted but the moment she got it, all she could think of was going home and seeing her little boy.
She sighed as she leafed through a rack of colored velvet scarves, feeling the different textures and weights with a gloved hand. "What's a matter chere", Remy said as he watched her. "Something bothering you?"
"Its nothing." she said, adding a red scarf to the others she'd placed in her shopping basket.
Remy studied her for a moment then shook his head as he stepped up beside her, turning her to face him. "Ya be a good mama Rogue, Trey is lucky, but Remy thinks Jean may be right, ya need to take some time for yourself as well."
"How did you"- She asked but he cut her off.
"Remy told you before", he said as he took a step closer to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "He knows his chere, very well."
He leaned over her shoulder and picked up a teal colored velvet scarf from the rack, running it across the base of her neck and shoulder slowly and seductively. Trailing it across the top of her breasts and neck, then up her jaw bone as he felt her body tighten in response. "How's this one feel Rogue?" he asked softly into her ear. "Good non?"
"Hmmm", she said, trying to keep her mind in focus and failing. She leaned back against his chest for a moment, inhaling his scent and cursing herself yet again for falling for him when she knew it was the biggest and most dangerous risk she'd ever take. She slipped her fingers in his hair, glad she had her full length gloves on, as he settled the scarf at her neck and kissed her through the material. "Remy", she breathed as she felt her body quicken in response "Behave yourself, Sugah, we're in public"
He grinned at her as he lifted the scarf off her neck and folded it back up to put away. "Remy can't help it P'tite, it be his nature to try and seduce beautiful creatures like yourself"
"Ah'll bet", she said but none the less when she left the store ten minutes later, she'd bought five of the velvet scarves, ranging from the teal one to black to a deep purple.
"I don't know bout' you P'tite", He said as they walked away purchase in hand from the fashion boutique. "But Remy's getting hungry. You up for something to eat yet?"
"Sure", Rogue said as they reached the escalator. "Ah think I could eat something Sugah."
She let him lead her to a quiet café on the second floor that she knew, he knew she'd always liked. It was dimly lit with cozy booths, and a good strain of rock music was blaring in the back round as the waitress seated them then hurried off to another table. "Ah haven't been here in along time." Rogue said as she perused the menu. "Not since Christmas at least."
"You should shop for yourself more often", he said "Take some time to relax."
She sighed then shook her head. "Ah try, it just ain't easy that's all."
The waitress hurried up to them with a pad in her hand. "Sorry about that." she said "What can I get for you two?"
"Ah'm gonna have the Thai Chicken Salad." Rogue said handing her the menu across the table. "And an iced coffee please." She caught Remy's look across the table at her. "What?"
"You know what Rogue", he said, casting his eyes down to the menu again.
Rouge made a frustrated noise, and tapped her fingers off of the table. "Better change that to a sparkling cranberry juice Sugah, if that's all right?"
The waitress nodded and changed the order "That's fine. And for you sir?"
Rouge watched as Remy ordered a corn beef sandwich and a coke and waited until the waitress had left to get the drinks before speaking. "Ah don't need you to monitor what I eat or drink Remy LeBeau, Ah'm an adult, not a child" She said peevishly.
He shook his head at her, unfazed at her words. "Then start taking better care of yourself, and Remy won't question what you eat, Jean nether." He raised an eyebrow. "Remy monitors because he cares, Mon Coeur. He'd hate to see you get taken off the team because of something you can control easily."
She knew grudgingly, that he was speaking the truth but she still didn't like the fact that he was. "Ah don't want it ether." she admitted "But it's harder then you think it is to change the way Ah am when it comes to food."
"All ya have to do is try chere", he said, taking her hand and squeezing gently, as their food came. "But don't worry Remy'll take care of you, anyways"
She'd been afraid he was going to say something like that.
Rogue dug into her salad, amazed she could be hungry after the breakfast she'd eaten, and tried not to worry about Trey, or the fact that she was rapidly falling back into love with the mind sitting across from her, even if he'd only been in her life again for a week. She took a sip of her drink as she mused, wishing she could have had the iced coffee she'd wanted but knowing the juice was better for her in the long run. She had the suspicious feeling that she'd drunk her last cup of java for a while if Remy and Jean had anything to say about it.
After she'd eaten Rogue excused herself to go to the washroom, only to return to the table and find Remy grinning smugly as the waitress set a huge piece of something chocolate and gooey at Rogue's place before hurrying off. "What is this?" She asked as she sat down, eyeing the chocolate dessert warily.
"Chocolate Mud Pie", he said watching she stared the pie down. "Hope ya don't mind, Remy ordered it for ya while you were in the washroom."
"Remy I can't eat all this." she said indicating with her fork. "It's huge."
"Den ya better get started hadn't ya?" he said.
"Your gonna make me fat Cajun." Rogue said as she dug in. " Ya know that."
"Somehow Remy doubt's it." he said "So enjoy!"
After lunch they strolled the mall again and went into the Hobby shop like Remy had wanted to. Rogue watched as he poured over the decks of cards, taking them out of the cardboard packages, flexing them and testing them against his hand as the clerk watched curiously. "What'cha think of these?" He asked, showing her a deck of cards with a green diamond on a black background. "Day is about the best ones here."
"Ah like these better", she said holding up a deck with a black back and a gold Celtic scroll emblazoned on it. "But that's just my taste Sugah."
"Den you got good taste chere", he said taking the deck of cards and testing them with a nod as they met his satisfaction. "Remy likes them as well."
Rogue watched as he collected up a dozen packages of the cards and headed for the cash to pay for them then they walked out of the store arm in arm. "She must have thought you were a professional player", Rogue said glancing over her shoulder at the baffled clerk.
"Remy is", he said as he pulled her close and kissing the top of her head. "Just not with cards.
"You're such a flirt Remy LeBeau", She said with a laugh playfully shying away as they reached the center court of the mall, enjoying herself.
"Only with you", he said, pulling her back teasingly and dipping her back over his arm, low to the ground in an old fashioned chivalrous style, until her hair brushed the floor. They stayed that way for a moment, oblivious to the fact people were starting to stare at them as her shopping bags dropped to the ground silently. "Never seriously with anyone else, Mon P'tite."
"Remy.", she said warily, looking up at him.
"Shhh", he said softly as he held her tenderly. "Trust me chere."
He reached into her bag, pulling out of the velvet scarves she'd bought and using it as a shield between them; kissed her as she wound her arms around his neck automatically. She leaned into him, pressing her breasts against his chest and kissing him back with as much passion as she had ever felt for him. Her entire body cried out in need as he held her close. They broke apart for an instant then kissed again as the flame between them blaze to life in full ardor. She rested her hand on the back of his neck and while the other stayed on his shoulder, resting warmly.
When they finally broke apart after what seemed like an eternity, and Rogue had taken the scarf off of her face to toss back in the bag, they were met with claps, hoots and whistles from the crowd of people that had gathered around them to witness the pair kiss.
Rogue smiled, feeling the blood rush to her face as she glanced at the people around her, watching them with a mixture of smiles and frowns. Remy kissed her lightly, so quick her body didn't have time to respond and kick her mutation into effect then set her back on her feet with a flourish.
He glanced over at her with a grin leaning in close, and taking her gloved hand in his. "Don't look so embarrassed Rogue, be happy. We gave them some thing to envy for."
Rogue looked at him, and burst out laughing as he did, then they both stepped forward and gave a false show bow for the crowd.
And then with a sigh, as she looked over at Remy, Rogue let the last of her fears go and took the final flight, letting herself fall completely.
Sure for the first time, he was going to be there to catch her.
When they entered the mansion a few hours later, with their arms loaded with purchases, Rogue and Remy were met by Storm and Jean at the front doors to help them. "How'd it go?" Storm said as she took grocery bags from the pair. "Did you get everything?"
"Mostly", Rouge said as she took more bags from the car, and handed them to Jean. "Ah think we got everything."
"Remy thinks we got everything", Remy said, eyeing all the packages in the caddie's trunk and full backseat. "And then some chere."
"Well lets put all this in the kitchen, and I'll go through it and give the students what they need." Storm glanced over at the car, seeing the exhausted look on Remy's face. " Hey, this is nothing." Storm informed him, as they all followed him to the staff kitchen. "You should see the load we get at the beginning of the school year; we have to take some of the students with us to get it all."
"Dat bad huh?" Remy said over his shoulder as they reached it.
"Last year it took three cars to get it all." Rogue said.
"And two days." Storm put in as she began to shelve items.
"And three valium's." Jean said as she began tossing the empty bags under the sink. "Well at least, for everyone else. I was pregnant at the time so I had to go un-medicated."
"You poor thing." Rogue said stoically before starting to laugh.
"Hey, it was traumatizing!" Jean said with a laugh as they returned to the parked Caddie. "I'm surprised Livvy wasn't born with a birthmark of a shopping bag on her head." She hefted more bags from the car, handing them to Storm." You should know, you were pregnant three years ago when school started, remember?"
Rogue laughed sarcastically as Remy watched. "Like Ah could forget being seven months pregnant and shopping with a group of twenty rowdy teenagers; by the end Ah wanted to go home and sleep until my due date."
"I remember the feeling well." Jean said as they entered the kitchen again. "I wanted to kill Scott by the end of it for assigning me a group of the older boys. I had to put up with cat calls all day."
"They didn't dare to that to me.", Rogue said "Ah looked like Ah had swallowed a basketball, a couple of times over. Ah was one temperamental mama-to be, didn't take anything off of anybody that day." She turned to Remy. "Ya should have seen it Sugah, Ah've got pictures from around then, Ah'll have to show you."
"Remy think he's glad he missed it, da shopping not da pregnancy." He said as he hefted the bags onto the kitchen counter.
"You'll get your chance." Rogue said as they turned to leave, to get more stuff from the car. "Next year."
"Dat's true." he said as they made their way down the hallway.
As they made their way down the hall, a door opened to their right, from the student kitchen and Trey came bolting out, heading straight for Rogue and Remy. "Momma, papa!" he called as he ran to them with open arms. He was covered head to toe in chocolate and Jubilee was right on his heels as he reached them and Rogue swung him up into her arms.
"Hey Sugah", she said giving him a kiss, then looking him over. "What in the world have you been up too?"
"Sorry", Jubilee said as she hurried up to them. "We were making brownies; I think I let him get little carried away with the batter."
"Ah, its all right." Rogue said "Actually, we should be apologizing since we're an hour late and all. Ah know you probably have things to do besides, run the daycare."
"Nah." Jubilee said "Not really, I don't have any plans right now."
"In dat case." Remy said as he looked at his son. "Could ya watch him for a few more minutes while we finish putting the shopping away?"
"It would help." Rogue said "We wouldn't be more then half an hour, an hour tops, Jubes, please?"
"Sure." Jubilee said as Rogue set Trey back on the ground. She held out a hand to Trey. "Let's go check on the brownie's Squirt."
"Kay." Trey said following her. "And don't call me Squirt, Sparky."
Rogue and Remy laughed as they watched him go then hurried to get the last load from the car. "This is all my stuff." Rogue observed as she looked into the backseat. "So it'll have to go upstairs." She eyed the open trunk, sorting through the bags, pulling them out and filling her arms before she let Remy take the rest, and then she started for her rooms.
Once she'd reached her door, she set the packages down and waited for him to catch up with her, leaning against the doors edge as she watched him come down the hall with a smile before opening the door and stepping inside. " Just drop them in here." She called as she tossed her keys on the table, and checked the answering machine for any messages, rubbing her neck to try and ease the tension out of it . She watched as Remy dropped the packages on the kitchen table then looked in her direction as if to question what was bothering her.
Rogue smiled and moved beside him as she began to sort through the bags, deciding what to do with what.
She glanced over her purchases then back to Gambit. " Ah bought more then Ah thought."
" So?", he said leaning against the table. " What's wrong with treating yourself now and den chere?"
" True.", she said, moving closer to him, thinking about the day she had just spent with him and how she'd enjoyed it, making a decision, the groceries and shopping bags long forgotten. She wondered what the hell she was about to do, if it was the right thing, if it was impulsive . It seemed like her judgment had shut down, all her reserves flew out the window, her heart took over and before she knew what she was doing really, she stepped in front of him. Settling his hands at her waist then wrapping her arms around his neck she drew him close, loving the feel of his arms around her.
" What'cha ya doing Rogue?", he asked seriously as he tightened his hold on her, resting one hand in the small of her back, and massaging gently.
She smiled up at him, reaching behind him to grab a hold of one of the velvet scarves that was lying on the table. " What do you think Remy?" She said, " Ah'm treating myself to something, Ah've been wanting all day."
" Really?", he said " In that case, let Remy oblige you chere, in anyway that he can?" He took the scarf from her, draping it loosely between them as he tipped her chin towards him and kissed her. She tightened her arms carefully around his neck, and kissed him back, letting her forehead rest against his as she tried to calm the frantic sensations that were raging through her.
He stroked up her ribcage with a soft hand, letting his thumb caress under her breast through her shirt then cupped her breast in his palm, savoring the weight and feel of her so close to him. Subtlety he moved so that they had switched positions and she was up against the edge of the table. Coming up for air for an instant, she leaned back, resting one hand on the table, as he tipped her lower and kissed her again.
Rogue put everything she had into kissing him back, amazed how kissing him felt as natural as breathing and just as life sustaining. She felt like she needed him as much as air to breathe, and it was something that both thrilled and scared her to the core. She pressed herself closer, straining to get the most out of his touch as she could, hungry for more, for as much as he could give her. The kiss seemed to last forever, until the room and everything around them was gone and there was only the two of them.
When they finally broke apart, Rogue leaned against him, trying to catch her breath and regain her senses to some degree. He hugged her tightly against him, and she could feel how aroused he was, just like she. She wanted him so badly, she could barley see straight but she knew she had to act carefully or else risk getting hurt again when she knew she wouldn't be able to bare it. Rogue knew if they continued as they were going, they would wind up down the hall, and in her bed and she wasn't sure she was ready for that yet.
For a moment nether of them spoke, and the silence said more then ether of them ever could. Finally Rogue cleared her throat, pulling the scarf away and looking at him, reeling from the intense heat they were producing. " Wow.", she rasped as she leaned her head against his chest for support.
" Couldn't have said it better myself.", he whispered into her hair, his voice as strained as hers. He glanced at the clock, " We got an hour chere until Jubilee brings Trey back…" He let his voice trail off as he picked up the scarf and kissed her again until she was breathless.
" Slow Cajun," she whispered as they broke apart, stroking the hair off of his forehead with a gloved hand " Lets take things slow okay, there's no need to rush is there?"
" Nope.", he said, stroking her covered arms gently, " If ya want to take it slow, Remy won't push."
Without another word, he took her by the hand and began to lead her to the couch in the living room. " Remy what are you doing?", she asked, letting herself be led along.
He smiled at her, that dangerous smile again, and laughed. " Nothing you won't like.", he said as he sat down and pulled her down with him. Rogue began to suspect that this was going to end up with her parting ways with her cloths in some fashion. " Sit down here."
Rogue could feel her inner restraint weakening as she did as he asked, wondering where exactly he was planning, knowing inwardly it was part of some seduction plan but feeling unwilling to stop it. " What are you planning Remy?"
He raised an eyebrow as he began to settle pillows at one end of her sofa before turning back to her and extending a hand. " Like Remy said before at da mall, trust me Rogue."
She took his offered hand in hers as she edged closer warily and he pressed her gently into the mound of pillows he'd made, adjusting her so she was lying on her stomach with her arms resting under her chin. She looked over her shoulder at him. " What are you pullin Remy?"
" You see soon enough P'tite.", he said " Ya wearing a stocking under that shirt, non?"
" Of course.", she said then her eyes widened at his smile. "Why?"
Without a word he slipped a hand under the back of her shirt, rolling it up until most of her back was bare under her stocking. Suddenly she knew what he was planning, the one thing that she couldn't resist, no matter what, her major weakness when it came down to Remy LeBeau.
He leaned in close to her ear as he stretched out beside her on the wide sofa and began to massage up her back lightly, " Do ya remember how much ya loved my massages Mon Coeur."
She groaned into the nearest pillow as he began to massage in earnest . " God, how could Ah ever forget Sugah." She'd dreamed of his massages all the time she was pregnant and long after. It was and always had been the one true way he'd ever been able to get her to relax fully and forget her mutation, something it normally would have been extremely dangerous for her to do. It was a test of strength for him as well, since it meant controlling his powers, so he wouldn't charge her with his touch and hurt her.
Rogue gasped as he began to press into her lower back, kneading seductively with the pads of his thumbs in slow lazy circles and he laughed, bending low to press a kiss where he had just touched. " Feels good, non?"
" Ummm.", she made a muffled noise as she gripped one of the pillows, feeling the tension begin to drain out of her body in waves, making her feel drowsy and relaxed. He began to work up her back under her shirt, to her upper back and shoulders, pushing her shirt aside until finally she arched up for a moment and he helped her take it off, tossing it in the direction of the large fern in the corner of the living room.
" Remy." She murmured sleepily from her pillow.
" Hmmm?", he said as he kissed her shoulder, and continued massaging her.
" Your killing me, you know that?"
He laughed low as she looked over her shoulder at him with a rueful smile. " Ah meant what Ah said about taking it slow, ya know." She said, not wanting to ruin the mood but knowing she had to make her point.
" Chere, this is taking it slow." He said " Don't worry 'Bout things so much, just relax." He trailed a finger down her back, making her shiver with pleasure and then kissed down the path he had just made. " We can take thing as slow as ya want them to be, Remy don't mind none."
She nodded, feeling drowsy again, letting her head sink back down onto the mountain of pillows as he watched, amused. " Tired chere?"
" Very.", she murmured, as she struggled not to drop off. Remy's massages always put her to sleep, no matter what her mood had been prior to when he started working on her.
" Good.", he said " Remy knows you have trouble sleeping, maybe dis' ll help a bit."
" It's only seven o'clock." She protested.
" So?" Remy said as he pulled off her shoes, and tossed them beside the couch.
" Ah can't sleep yet, its too early."
" No it isn't.", he said " 'Sides you need it Rogue, we both know it."
" Trey'll be back soon.", she said, trying to stay awake to no avail.
" So?" Remy said again.
" He'll be hungry."
" So Remy'll feed him"
" He's gonna need a bath, Remy"
" Remy knows how to work soap and water chere"
Rogue could see she was rapidly losing both the argument with Remy and her battle with sleep, so with a final sigh she gave up. " Remy,", she said as drifted off. " That thing this morning, you making breakfast, that was just a one time thing right?"
By the time Remy opened his mouth to answer, she was sound asleep. He laughed and stroked the hair off of her forehead with the sleeve of his shirt. " No chere.", he whispered as he covered her with a blanket, thankful he had sometime before Trey came home so he could move her to he room without any tricky questions . " If Remy has anything to say 'bout it, its gonna be more den once. It's gonna be a whole lot more den dat."
A week or so after that day at the mall, Remy , leaned an arm on he passenger door of Scott's SUV, watching the tree fly by, glad they were almost home. He'd spent the last two day's wanting to get home to Rogue and Trey as fast as possible.
He , Scott, and Kitty had been sent to Boston to uncover information about a potentially dangerous new mutant that Xavier had found through Cerebro . It was vital as Xavier hadn't any clue if they could be used as an ally or if they were a potential enemy.
It had started out as strictly a recon mission, in which the Professor had proclaimed that Remy's " Unique talents and skills" had been needed to help the mission succeed .
" In other words ya need a good thief to get in and out quick.", Remy had said at the briefing." And Remy be the best and closest one around."
" Precisely.", Charles had said without a hint of apology as he filled them in on all of the other details. " With your abilities, Scott's leadership and Kitty's ability to walk through walls, getting the information should be fairly simple."
So the next morning the three of them had set out in Scott's SUV to find out what they could, which had proved to be very little, since by the time they had reached Boston, the Mutant Registry had been torched to the ground by protestors, leaving nothing more then rubble and shattered lives.
With nothing to do after the crowed had been contained, since the building was completely burned out and there was nothing left, they had spent the day helping victims sort through the rubble for personal items and then turned around and started for home again.
" Well.", Kitty said as the mansion came into view. " That was a bust, who gets to tell the Professor we didn't get anything." Remy watched through the rearview mirror as Kitty rolled her eye skyward immediately. " Never mind, he already knows right?"
Scott laughed as they pulled into the garage. " Chances are he knows, knows who caused it and has already notified the police and anyone else who need to know about it." He stopped the car and t, anxious to get in and see Jean and the kids, knowing Remy was feeling the same way towards Rogue and Trey.
They had entered the mansion, and Kitty immediately peeled off to go and find her boyfriend Bobby and tell him she was back safe and sound. Storm met them at the door and winced when she saw the look on their faces, and the soot on their uniforms.
" Didn't go well huh?" She asked rhetorically. " We heard about the Registry being torched, just after you left but the Professor waited to see if you could get anything anyways .", She indicated to Xavier's office down the hall." Jean sent me to tell you, The Professor had to go to Washington right away because The Mutant Safety Commission had been called to meeting because of the fire."
" How long has he been gone?" Scott asked, wondering at the gravity of the situation.
" Two days.", Storm said. " He's returning supposedly, the day after tomorrow if everything goes well." She glanced at the clock. " I have to go, I have a group of girls to take to a yoga lesson in twenty minutes. Jean says to clean up and then come and see her to get filled in on things here" With a hurried " Goodbye" She started for the north end media room, where her group was meeting.
" Well, if dat da case, Remy thinks he'll go find Rogue and see how things are." Remy said, heading for her rooms to see if she was there while Scott hurried towards the office and his wife.
Jean and Scott were in Xavier's office, half an hour later when the door burst open and Remy came charging in, looking both worried and pissed off to the extreme. " Okay", he said and Scott could see he was worried. " What's going on, Remy can't find Rogue or Trey any where and da cars in the garage. I checked every where, da gardens, the gym, da daycare. Where day be Jean?"
Jean looked at Scott, dreading what she had to tell Remy but knowing she didn't have a choice. She stood, sliding off of Scott's lap and faced the angry Cajun, not knowing exactly how to put what she had to tell him.
Down the hall in the day care, Jubilee was sitting with Livvy, giving her a bottle when all of a sudden Remy's angry voice blared out of the office, causing both her and the baby to jump and wince at the sound.
-"GONE!!!,"
" What DA HELL do you mean girl, dat they be GONE!!!!"
To be continued…