Y'all know the dilly yo that I don't own marvel, or these characters, blah blah blah…
Author's Note: I re-wrote this whole chapter. Nothing from the original chapter is included in this one. This chapter is longer than the first by a thousand words. I do not know what the hell I'm thinking but I'm sure this will go on for this entire story, or most of it for that matter. I am insane right now. Thank you.
A Different Way to a Perfect Ending
Her head was hung over the toilet as her hands gripped onto the edge of it. Another round spewed from her mouth as she tightened her grip on the edge of the toilet seat. When she felt her stomach calm down, she sat down again and threw her head back. Beads of sweat trickled down her forehead as she hastily wiped it away with the back of her hand. She was exhausted, and she had never remembered a time when her body felt so weak. It had to be food poisoning, she thought as she recalled the 'authentic' Moroccan dinner Kitty had cooked the night before. At least Rogue learned to never trust Kitty's cooking ever again. The girl had never even been to Morocco, Rogue realized as an exasperated sigh escaped her lips.
Feeling that her stomach felt all right again, she slowly got up off the floor. She flushed the toilet and walked towards the sink. One look into the mirror made her quickly turn away. She turned the knob and water spouted from the faucet. She filled a handful and splashed it all over her face.
The cool water felt nice after half an hour of throwing up, she thought.
Then, she turned the water off and grabbed for a towel. While patting her face dry, she found the courage to look into the mirror again. There were dark bags under her eyes, her hair was a mess, and her skin looked drier than she had ever seen it before. She could barely recognize herself and that was definitely a disheartening feeling.
But it probably wasn't half as bad as what Remy was going through, and he had to be going through something for if it was to be otherwise, there was a possibility that he could be dead. She shook her head to the clear the thoughts of him being dead. He couldn't possibly be dead. She would feel it; she would know it. Their bond was that strong.
But it wasn't strong enough for her to hold onto his hand, her head reminded her.
The tears formed once more as she turned away from the mirror. It had been two weeks since she had eavesdropped on Ororo and Kitty's conversation. It had been two months since she had last seen Remy. Regardless of the length of time, her love for him was still there and it was stronger than ever. If only they had gone through the trial now, she knew she wouldn't have let go. If only there was a second chance, she thought desperately. She shook her head repeatedly once more as the realization sunk in. There would never be a second chance to right the wrong. For her to even think that there could be was selfish in itself. Perhaps, selfish was all she was.
The towel dropped from her hand and onto the sink counter. She walked towards the door as she tried to suppress the thoughts of him on her mind. She didn't deserve his love. She didn't deserve him. There was no point in wishing for the impossible. As she exited the bathroom, she ran straight into a big blue furry blur. It turned out to be Hank McCoy.
"Rogue, my dear, are you alright?" He asked as he steadied her with his massive furry arm.
"Yeah…ah'm fine. Ah'm sorry. Ah didn't see ya there." Rogue apologized as she tried to regain her composure. For some reason though, she was feeling rather weak which was quite a remarkable fact, considering that normally she could lift over a thousand times her weight.
"No. I was completely at fault. Take a deep breath, Rogue." Hank advised and she did just that as she grasped onto his arm.
"You are looking rather pale. Are you feeling alright?" Hank asked concernedly as he studied her pale face and unusual meekness.
"Yes, Ah'm fine. Ah've just been throwing up all morning. Ah think it was that dinner Kitty cooked last night. Ah knew the duck tasted funny…" Rogue explained as she continued to take deep breaths of air.
"It might be just that, but regardless, I would like to examine you to ensure that it is indeed a simple stomach flu so we could also prescribe the right antibiotics to take care of this matter, and hopefully bring some colour back to those cheeks of yours." Hank suggested.
"It's alright, Hank. Ah'll be fine in a few hours. It should go away by then. It has happened before." Rogue declined.
"My dear, to be completely overbearing and somewhat condescending, don't forget that I am the doctor here so I would know what would be best. But most importantly, I am your friend and I only want what is best for you. Thus, it would be beneficial if you would let me examine you to ensure that you are healthy." Hank insisted more persistently.
A defeated sigh escaped Rogue's lips while she rolled her eyes. "Fine fine. Ya are the doctor. But Ah'll show ya that it ain't nothing but a little stomach flu."
"I'm sure you will. Let's head on down to the medical lab." Hank said and with a supportive arm for Rogue to take, he led her down there right away.
-xoxo-
"So, how am ah? Let me guess… ah have a clean bill of health minus the stomach flu, right?" Rogue guessed confidently with her back to Hank while she slipped her clothes back on.
"Well, you definitely are healthy but I figure that does depends on what you define healthy to be." Hank replied vaguely.
Dressed once again, she turned around to face Hank. "What are ya talking 'bout, sugah?" She asked inquisitively.
"I do not really know how to put this… but when we were in Antarctica, and with your powers neutralized…"
"Are ya askin' if Remy and ah consummated our love?" Rogue interrupted him with her forthright question.
"Yes, Rogue. That is exactly what I'm inquiring." Hank agreed.
"Well to be frank, that we did. But it shouldn't be a surprise t'ya." Rogue told him and shrugged her shoulders indifferently.
"Then, I believe I know what is behind your ailment. My sweet Rogue, this morning you weren't throwing up because of Kitty's questionable culinary skills. You were actually experiencing your first morning sickness." Hank explained with an encouraging smile. His smile didn't help though as Rogue's expression displayed horror while the news sunk in. She was pregnant. She was pregnant with Remy's child. She was pregnant with the child of the man she had let fall to his death.
She felt her knees go weak, as she leaned back against the examining table. Hank rushed to her side to support her as she looked at him with utter bewilderment.
"There has t'be a mistake, Hank! This can't happen. It's not supposed to happen!" Rogue exclaimed desperately as she waited for Hank to confirm that she was indeed right. Hank, however, shook his head in disagreement and said, "I'm sorry, Rogue. But it is true. You are pregnant."
Her hand intuitively rested on her stomach as Hank's words sunk in. Then, she realized what she had done. She had killed the father of her baby, or at least hurt him so intensely that he might as well be dead. The tears spilled uncontrollably as she wrapped her arms around Hank.
"Ah can't do this, Hank. Not without him. Not without Remy. This is his child, what am ah gonna tell it? That ah killed it's father? Ah can't do this by myself. This isn't supposed to happen." Rogue rambled with immense fear and regret.
"Rogue, it will be fine. You will be fine. As much as you believe this isn't supposed to happen, it has very well happened. Your child will love and forgive you. Do not be afraid." Hank said soothingly as he rubbed her back.
"How can ah not be afraid, Hank? Ah don't know how to be a mother! Ah never even had one of my own… and trust me, when ah say that Mystique was not a good example. Ah can't do this. Ah just can't." Rogue mumbled as the tears continued to flow.
"Do not believe that. You will be a wonderful mother, and your child will be safe and happy and will love you for all that you will do for it. This is an amazing thing, Rogue. Please believe that." Hank said comfortingly.
"How can't it be amazing? Mah baby's not gonna have a father because of me! Do ya realize that ah robbed mah child from having an amazing man t'call it's father? As long as it was me losing Remy, ah could deal wit' it. Ah could deal wit' the consequences. But it's his child and because of me, the baby hasn't even been born with it, and will carry the pain of never knowing his father. How will mah baby ever forgive me for throwing his father away?" Rogue asked through her sobs.
Hank gently pulled her back from him and stared at her straight in the eyes. "Rogue, listen to me. Your child will love and honour you simply because of the love you already have for it. This child will forgive you when it knows of the circumstances you were under. You have absolutely nothing to be afraid about. You will not be going through this alone either. There is a house full of friends who love you and will support you through this journey. You have the strength within you to be a wonderful mother, and I know you know you do. So, my dear, do not shed any more tears of remorse for this child is a blessing in disguise." Hank stated.
"Ya sure, Hank?" Rogue asked, as she fished for a confirmation.
"I'm positive, darling. Now, wipe those tears away. Today is a brand new day and prior to what you believed, it really is a glorious day. But, I must advise you to rest up, and do not participate in any dangerous activities that might harm the baby. And sweetheart, that does include the nighttime trips to halfway around the world. From now on, night shall mean sleep like it is supposed to mean. Furthermore, you can rest assure that I will be here all the way until the birth of your beautiful child. I will ensure that there will be no complications and that you give birth to a gorgeous bouncing bun of joy." Hank said with a huge comforting smile plastered on his face.
Rogue smiled lightly as well after she heard her friend and also, doctor's words. She gave him a huge hug and said, "thank ya, Hank. Ah really appreciate it."
"No need for that, Rogue. We have known each other for too long that it simply isn't necessary." Hank said and hugged her back.
"But ah'll say it anyway. Thank ya." She stated once more and pulled back from him.
"Hank, one more thing…" She began and shifted nervously.
"I'm listening." Hank answered.
"Can we not tell anyone about this yet? Ah don't think ah'm ready." Rogue requested softly.
"Rogue, first of all, I'm your doctor. I took an oath of respecting my patients' private matters so it is no place of mine to tell anyone about this. Furthermore, I would never tell anyone without your permission, no matter what the circumstances. So, you have my word that I will not utter a single peep over this matter." Hank assured her.
"Thank ya, Hank. Thank ya so… oh gawd, not again!" Rogue said as she covered her mouth and ran in search for the nearest bathroom.
Hank simply watched her go and chuckled lightly. He had a feeling that everything would work out for his southern gal pal.
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