Dismal Angel 2010 - Episode 20

Chapter 3: You're…I'm sorry?

"You're…I'm sorry," Remy cocked his head and raised one eyebrow, he rubbed his chin, "I think I misheard…" he used his pinky to clean his ear, thinking that maybe some build up earwax had caused him to hear what he thought he'd heard. He knew he had to have misheard, because responsible, intelligent Kitty Pryde, couldn't possibly do something that irresponsible, it just wasn't her.

Kitty shook her head in disbelief and got up, "I knew you'd act all weird if I told you," she turned her back on him, standing, hugging herself insecurely.

"I'm not acting weird…I'm sorry, this is a lot to take…with Rogue being…well…" he trailed off, he stood up slowly, "…not really Rogue…and all these attempts at my assassination…and then there's Betsy moving in…and everyone finding out about Sinister…and now…this…?" he put his hand on her arm, "Just say it again, I want to be sure I'm not imagining things, Petit."

Kitty turned her head ever so slightly so she could look at him from the corner of her eyes, "I'm pregnant," she responded sadly.

"Wow…" he swallowed, he dropped back onto the window seat, it was some news. He just couldn't fathom out how she could be so careless. "This…is big."

"That's all you can say, this is big?" she demanded, tears in her eyes, "I'm PREGNANT. There's another human being LIVING inside of me…"

"I bet it's gonna be pretty like it's momma," Remy responded, it was all he could find to say, he was hoping she'd smile, but she just broke into sobs. And Remy felt somewhat helpless to that. This whole situation somehow reminded him of when his ex-fiance Bella Donna had come to the mansion to announce her pregnancy to him. The memories came flooding back.

"I'm sorry," Kitty sighed, trying to wipe her tears, "I shouldn't have told you…" she saw it in his face somehow, the same haunted expression that arose whenever his stillborn daughter was mentioned.

"No…it's fine," he drew his breath, pulled a brave face and stood up once again, "Kitty…what're you gonna do?" he asked softly.

"Right now that's the least of my worries," Kitty sighed, she grabbed a tissue from her dresser and wiped her tears, then her nose.

"What are you talking about?" Remy queried, he stood, his arms folded, he wasn't sure if he should hug her, the way she kept moving away indicated she was feeling a little estranged somehow, and he didn't want to press on that.

"Remy…you know me, right?" Kitty looked at him.

"Of course," Remy nodded.

Kitty tossed the tissue in a wastepaper basket near the dresser, "do I seem like the kind of girl who just goes out and has unprotected sex and gets pregnant?" she asked.

"Honestly?" Remy asked, "No…it was the first thing I thought when you told me…" he admitted, "you're Kitty Pryde, responsible, smart, you have it all together, you got everything all worked out, your future all planned out, everything…"

Kitty nodded, "that's what I thought too. God I feel so STUPID."

"Wait," Remy said, "before we discuss this any further, how do you KNOW you're pregnant?" he asked. All he had was her word, but where was the proof? For all he knew this could be some kind of false alarm.

"Psylocke told me," Kitty sniffled.

"How would SHE know?"

"I didn't even ASK, she just…saw it in my head…and told me," Kitty sighed, "I'd been thinking about it all day…I've…y'know, been late…"

"That was NOT her place," Remy muttered, "she's like that. Best to keep your head cleared when you're around her, she's nosy, she has no ethics when it comes to her powers, she'll go pryin' around in your head whether you allow it or not. She doesn't care about rules and restrictions."

Kitty looked at him, he looked somewhat angry when he spoke of Betsy Braddock – the woman called Psylocke.

"She's spiteful," Remy said, "she could be making it up…"

Kitty sighed, "I took a pregnancy test from the hospital wing yesterday."

"Ahh, so that's what you took," Remy nodded, "I was wondering. I thought it was maybe tampons."

Kitty sighed, "I just can't do it, Remy…what if I am…then I have visual proof and my life is…just so over…everything."

Remy looked at her, "but you must know."

Kitty looked at him, "Will you…wait here then…with me…? The test takes a while…" she sniffled once again.

"Yeah, okay."

"Carol, you cannot remain in control of this body any longer," Professor Xavier said sternly. He was sitting behind his desk, looking at the body of Rogue under the control of Carol Danvers, the woman Rogue had completely absorbed into herself nine years previous.

Carol sat with a defiant expression on her face, arms folded, head turned, nose up in the air, "how many more hours must I suffer this nonsense?" she demanded, "and why must you be so unhospitable? You know I was innocent, you know I was tricked. Why can Remy LeBeau, and ex-thief, ex-convict, murderer and ex-Acolyte be welcomed into the X-Men with open arms but I must be chided like a child?" she demanded. "I'm twenty seven years old you know. I don't need to be sitting here listening to this tripe."

"This isn't exactly the same situation, Carol," Jean responded, she was sitting on the edge of the Professor's desk, one leg crossed primly over the other.

"How isn't it?" Carol asked, "I was an innocent eighteen year old girl, seduced by Remy LeBeau into joining the Acolytes…convinced to do this one thing for Magneto. I already had control over my powers, how could I be so stupid as to think that they could HELP me?!" she demanded, "and I got ripped off – taken from my own body – left a lifeless blonde shell in some hospital while Rogue got my powers and my man!" Carol looked away, "He told me he loved me…and I believed him…I must have been insane."

"But—" Jean began.

"But nothing," Carol frowned. "You welcome scallywags, Thieves, muscle for hire like that no good Colossus – god you even welcomed in an ASSASSIN – Remy's ex girlfriend, pregnant with his child no doubt. But when it comes to welcoming me, there are no hands outstretched, no warm smiles, no. I get told to return the mind to the body from which it came."

"I do sympathise but—" the Professor began.

"I haven't finished," Carol said loudly and shrilly, "I've spent nine YEARS holed up inside this woman's head and NEVER having the option to speak. I've spent nine years listening to you two and your whining and rules, and now it's MY turn, and you'll listen to me," she folded her arms, "I'm already an X-Man. Whether or not you want to believe it, my POWERS are part of your team, I've fought along side you all."

"Only in Rogue's head," Jean said quickly, determined to get her say also.

"I'll train then. You can't make me give her back to you. She'll be fine," Carol stood up, "Now if you'll excuse me," she stifled a yawn, "this boring and rather repetitive conversation has ended. You've kept me up all night and I'm in dire need of a damn good sleep. I'll be going to my room – which WAS Rogue's room, but now it'll have to do as mine until I can redecorate…I'll send a list of things I'll need…" she said. Carol left the room, the door slamming behind her impudently.

"That woman has some nerve," Jean gaped.

The Professor frowned, "how is she blocking us? It doesn't seem possible…this is something only a telepath should be able to do…"

Jean nodded, "I agree," she sighed, "right now, we'll brief some of the others on Rogue's – I mean Carol's – condition and advise them to keep an eye on her and make sure she doesn't leave the mansion," she suggested.

"Alright," the Professor nodded.

"In the meantime, Carol has the right idea," Jean yawned, and stretched, "let us get some rest."

"For the first time since the situation arose, I find myself in total and utter agreement with Carol," the Professor nodded, with a little yawn.