Thanks to all the sane people who are reading and reviewing! To
birdiee, I did not take your review as a flame and found it very
constructive. However, if you will permit me a second to be
defensive, let me say that I don't think a snowstorm in Northern
Canada in September is that much of a stretch of the
imagination. I live in Colorado and have survived blizzards
anywhere from early September to late April. As far as Remy is
concerned, I guess my defense is that I don't tend to
characterize him as being the slick, charming thief that he is
often portrayed as. Not that I don't think he is, but to me he
is just more complex...more scarred than that. Not to mention
that right now he is in serious denial, which ain't just a river
in Egypt. But that's just my opinion. Anyway, thanks and I
hope everyone enjoys this next chapter...
December
Although she had promised herself that she would put an end to Remy's drinking, Ororo never got the chance to over the next few weeks. By the time he got home at night, she was asleep, her insomnia having reverted itself into seemingly constant sleepiness, and during the days it seemed Remy was never around.
Storm, however, wasn't the only one who was growing worried about him, or at least angry with him. After he missed two Danger Room drills, Scott became furious, and another round of shouting took place. Remy, however, never stayed around after the fights, and when he would come home smashed, the problem was doomed to be repeated in an endless circle. As for the others, they tried to stay out of it, but Storm had overheard them talking about Remy's problem in whispered conversations more than once. She had even overheard Betsy tell Rogue that unless he straightened up, Scott was going to go to the Professor and have him kicked off the team. Ororo doubted that it would come to that, but inwardly, she was very worried. It seemed no one could count on the man anymore.
Professor Xavier seemed almost as tense as Scott. Ororo became convinced that Remy could not be the only cause. Well, everyone else can stand around and wonder what's going on by themselves but I'm going to find out. As it turned out, though, she didn't have to find out for herself. Xavier sent a psychic message to her asking to see her as soon as possible.
She knocked lightly on the door to the professor's study, and surprised herself by realizing that she was a little nervous. She had the feeling she wasn't going to like what Charles had to say.
"Come in, Ororo," came the professor's voice. She did, wondering if she would ever get used to never having to announce her presence to him.
"You asked to see me, Charles."
Xavier nodded, and motioned for her to have a seat. He looked distracted, something that was unusual for him. His eyebrows were furrowed, and his usually pleasant blue eyes looked distant.
Storm frowned, feeling concerned, as she sat down on the leather sofa. "There is something troubling you."
He nodded again. "I take it that was an observation, not a question." He managed a small smile, but it was obvious that something was troubling him a great deal. Storm waited for him to go on, but instead he picked up a newspaper with today's date and handed it to her. She took it curiously.
"What is this?"
Charles pointed wordlessly at one of the headlines. It read: Two More Mutants Murdered as Speculation over Friends of Humanity Increases. Storm read the headline, and glanced over the article. Shaking her head, she said, "This is horrible. Truly horrible."
"Yes, it is." Charles agreed. "The first victim was two weeks ago. A middle-aged man that apparently no one suspected as a mutant. The police officially ruled that a suicide. But," he paused and sighed. "Of course, it was not."
"You are certain it was the F.O.H.?" A sense of dread slowly crawling through her. The baby began to kick, none too gently at her lower spine. There was already the strange and obvious connection of her feelings with the childs, just as it was with the weather. And it knew right now, that she was feeling quite foreboding. The Friends of Humanity were the perhaps the biggest single threat against Xavier's dream of equality for mutants. A militaristic cult-like group that believed mutants to be a curse on humanity, and had to be exterminated. It was rare that they resorted to out-and-out murder, though. Mainly because they were cowards, and didn't want to face getting caught. Although she believed it was definitely something they would do if they knew they could get away with it.
"It was definitely the Friends of Humanity," Charles replied. He held up the newspaper. "There is a rumor that I have been privy to that leads me to believe that this is some sort of retaliation. I don't know the details, but I do know the police are being...less than zealous in pursuing them. But now there are two more murders."
"Retaliation?" She frowned, wondering briefly what that could mean. Shrugging, she added tentatively, "Surely the police will go after them now, right?"
Charles frowned heavily, and shook his head. "Perhaps. Perhaps I have too little faith in the police department. But I have heard things like this before. They are always wary about arresting these people. They fear being labeled as mutant lovers."
"That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard! It is their job to arrest these murderers!"
"You must remember, Ororo," Charles replied with a small, tired smile, "that this organization is ridiculous."
Storm leaned back against the sofa, still feeling angry. What if it were my child that was murdered? She wondered, glancing at her bulging, twitching stomach. How can the parents and loved ones of these victims live knowing that there will probably be no justice? She turned back to the professor. "What has this to do with me, Charles?"
"Quite a lot," he said. "I fear this is only the beginning of their actions. And that is bad for us."
"Yes, I realize that, but..."
Charles held up a hand, silencing her. "Let me finish. With Logan gone to who knows where, and you unable to go into to battle, we are two X-Men short. And as it appears to me right now, we will need everyone we can possibly get if the F.O.H. tries anything else. And I feel they will."
"What exactly are you saying, Charles?" Storm asked suspiciously. "Do you want me to apologize for the fact that I am pregnant and that my baby is the reason Logan took off?"
Charles raised his eyebrows. "Now it is you who is being ridiculous. You know that the X-Men all support you in your impending motherhood."
Storm nodded, feeling her face slightly warm. "Well, what is it, then?"
"Part of the reason I asked you here was just to inform you of the situation, as I have done with everyone." He paused and cleared his throat. "Everyone that is, except Gambit. And he is mainly the reason I asked to speak to you."
"I suspected as much. You want me to convince him to stop drinking."
Charles leaned forward in his hoverchair, his blue eyes as serious as Ororo had ever seen. "As I said, we are already two X-Men short. And this situation with the F.O.H. is not going to be pretty. We cannot afford to lose another person, especially to something as foolhardy as alcohol."
"I am not sure I can help him, Charles. He knows how I feel, he knows how we all feel. For him, drinking is the only way he knows to deal with his problems."
"You must try, Ororo," he insisted. "I hate to put further pressures on you when I know you are under a lot already, but I feel that you are the only one he will listen to. You must try."
* * * * * * * *
Okay, so I agreed to try and reason with him. But I will not feel guilty for the team being short-handed. It was late on the same day, and Ororo was waiting for Remy to come home, trying to convince herself that she shouldn't feel as though it was her fault for not being to help out the team, and for Logan taking off. She knew it wasn't her fault, but she couldn't stop thinking about it. It seemed it was going to be a long night, but no matter what time her friend appeared, she would wait and talk to him that night. She had been over what she was going to say several times, and it had to be tonight, or she thought she might lose her nerve. And just to make sure she did, she was waiting in his room.
She had been in her friend's room many times of course, but it was not until that night that she noticed how oddly little it said about him. The only real personal thing in the room was his huge hand-crafted mahogany bed that he had had shipped from his home in New Orleans the day he decided to stay with the X- Men. It was truly beautiful craftsmanship, very old, and Storm was guessing, very expensive. She knew that he had slept in it since the day his father Jean-Luc had taken him home at the age of eight, and that it was sentimental to him. But the rest of his room was so...sterile. He had a top of the line stereo and computer, but the rest of the furniture, even the expensive works of art, were done in early 19th century French colonial, all bought, or at least he said were bought, after he came here. Stylish and tasteful, yes, but unlike the rest of his friends, he had nothing that truly revealed his personality. None of these things were really important to him. They were just there. Ororo thought of her own large collection of plants, Bobby's Baywatch posters, or Hank's innumerable books, many of them first addition and very valuable. She knew why Remy was this way, but she had wrongly assumed that after all these years living with them that he would stop acting as though he had to hide his entire life, in other words, stop acting like a thief. I guess I was wrong. For him, once a thief, always a thief.
She stood and went to look out the window for what must have been the three-hundreth time that hour alone. Glancing at her watch, she saw it was after two, but she had no idea when he might come home. It could be a very long night. Her stomach growled, and briefly her thoughts turned to having a late night snack. Maybe a Twinkie...No, she told herself, you don't need to be eating those things. So instead she made herself comfortable on Remy's bed, and switched on his table light. She picked up her copy of What to Expect When You're Expecting and started reading.
An hour later, Ororo awoke with a start. Remy was standing over his bed staring at her. She sat up, somewhat embarrassed, not having intended on falling asleep. "Whatcha doing in my room, Stormy?" he asked in a slurred voice. He reeked of cheap whiskey, as she had fully expected he would. Struggling over to a chair, he kicked off his boots, almost falling over in the process.
"I was waiting to talk to you. I didn't mean to fall asleep." She went over to help him, so he could avoid killing himself trying to get undressed. She sincerely hoped that he was clear- headed enough to reason with.
"S'okay, chere. I fall 'sleep in your room lots a times. Whatcha wanna talk to me 'bout?"
"I think you know the answer to that, my friend." She helped him over to the bed, and sat back down next to him.
"No, I don't." He insisted. He glanced down at her stomach, momentarily looking afraid. "There ain't nothing wrong with the baby, is there?"
"No, nothing like that."
"Good," he mumbled, sighing with relief. "I stopped by this store the other day that sells baby furniture. I found the perfect crib. I know I shoulda waited for you to shop wit' me, but I couldn't resist, so I ordered it. You gonna love it, I know it."
Ororo frowned, losing her train of thought. "Um...Remy, don't you think it's kind of soon to be ordering baby furniture? I'm not even five months along."
He grinned stupidly, and rested a hand on her stomach. "I know, I know, but I only want the best for my little boy or girl. What you think it gonna be, chere? I can't decide."
"Huh? Oh, I don't know. I was going to ask Hank to tell me at the ultra-sound, but he couldn't tell. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Now, anyway, Remy, about what I wanted to talk..."
"Yeah," he interrupted, leaning against the back of the bed. "I can't believe that in four months I'm gonna be a daddy. You been practicing Lamaze, Stormy? I heard that it best for you and the baby."
"Well, I was..."
"Oh, and I been thinkin' 'bout names, too. I don't really like "juniors" so how 'bout Luc for a boy? I really like Dominique for a girl, or Renee."
"I haven't really thought about..."
"Oh, yeah," Remy continued, his whole face glowing. "I almost forgot. When I bought the crib, I stopped by an electronics store. I picked out a top of the line camcorder, one of those ones with the little screens to record with. I pick it up when I go back to pay for the crib. You gotta have a camcorder to record the birth, and birthdays, and all that."
Storm grabbed his arm, and shook him, "Remy, shut up for a minute! Please, I have to talk to you."
He blinked a few times, but stopped talking. "Sorry, Stormy, I didn't mean to go on like that. Go 'head."
"Well," she began, ignoring the fact that he was calling her by that name again, and realized that her whole plan of what she had planned to say had gone right out of her head. "First of all, I really wish you hadn't gone to the trouble of shopping for the baby yet."
"I know I shoulda waited for you, but..."
"That's not it," she interrupted. "But the fact is one of the reasons I wanted to talk to you is to tell you that I'm not even sure I am going to keep the baby."
Remy's eyes went wide and his mouth dropped open. "What?! You can't be serious."
"I am serious," Storm replied, trying to keep her voice calm. "It is something that I have been thinking a lot about. I want what's best for the child, and I am not sure that is here, and with us."
"What are you talkin' 'bout?" he said, his voice high and tight. "How can you do that to your baby? How can you do that to me?"
"Remy, you must understand. I want what's best for the baby. And I am not sure that bringing a baby here and now is a good idea, not to mention safe." She quickly explained to him what she and the professor had discussed earlier about the F.O.H. and how if they decided to target any more innocent mutants that it may mean trouble for the X-Men.
Remy frowned and shook his head. He wasn't buying that as reason enough for Storm to suddenly decide to give the baby up for adoption. "So you decide that just because we may have to get a little rough for awhile wit' de F.O.H. that it not safe to have the baby here?"
"No," she said. "That's only part of it. The main reason is because I don't want you around the child the way you are now. The main reason is because of you, Remy."
Although she didn't think it possible, he actually looked more shocked than he had a minute ago. His normally carefree expression was replaced by one that looked as if he had just been stabbed in the back by his best friend. But then, to Remy, he felt as though he had.
Deep down, Ororo really did hate having to say this to him. Even though she was furious at how stupid and reckless he had been acting lately, he was still her best friend after all, and she hated hurting him. "Remy," she said softly, touching his arm. "You know you have a problem. Everyone does, but you just will not see it. You really are leaving me no choice. I simply refuse to subject my child to having a drunk for a father."
For a long while, he didn't respond, simply sat there staring at her stomach as if he could communicate telepathically with it. The red of his eyes glowed with emotion when at last he turned to Ororo. "You really think I'd hurt you or my own baby just 'cause I get drunk? Is that what you worried 'bout?"
Storm shook her head adamantly. "Of course not. I know you better then that, and I know you would never hurt me or the baby, but that's not the point. If you really love this child as much as I think you do, as much as I do, than you know that he or she deserves a father who's sober. What if, one night after you had too much to drink, you get into a fight and get hurt, or Goddess forbid, killed, because your common sense is seriously diminished? Or for that matter, you could get into any sort of accident. Look at you! You can hardly walk when you come home. The point is, how can I trust you with a baby when you are like this?"
Again, Remy didn't answer right away. Ororo watched as he stood up, using the bed post to maintain his balance, and stood next to the bed with his back to her. For a second, she considered leaving, wondering if he was going to say anything at all. Finally, he turned around. "You right, 'Roro. You right 'bout everything. I been a really jerk. You, and everyone been trying to tell me I gotta problem for months now, but I ain't been listening."
Storm was surprised. Surprised that he had backed down that easily. "I am glad you understand, my friend. I'm glad I finally got through to you."
Remy sat back down on the bed, and took his friend's hand. "I make you a deal, chere. I promise to give up drinking, prove that I responsible 'nough to be a father, whatever you want me to do. And you promise to give me another chance. You promise not to give the baby up for adoption."
Storm stared at her friend, and shook her head. "Remy, this is too large an issue for me to just 'make a deal' on. There's more to it than that. Besides, do you really think you can stop drinking, just like that?"
He nodded slowly. "I think I can. As long as I know what's at sake, then I won't touch another drop. I know there are other issues here, chere, but we work through them. You say you know me, chere. Well, I know you, too. I know you don't want to do this. You want the baby s'much as I do." Squeezing her hand, he added, "Please, Ro. Promise me."
His words ran through her, paining her heart because she knew he was right. She didn't want to give up her baby. In a perfect world, she would be happily married, in love, and would have a beautiful home, and a loving husband before she had children. She wouldn't have to worry about her friends and herself being targeted by people because of what they are, she wouldn't worry about not being there for the people she considered her family, or about having her child grow up in an environment that could be dangerous and sorrowful. But, as she realized, this was not a perfect world. She was pregnant, but did not have a loving husband or a perfect home and family. She had friends, who, for the most part, supported her, but probably secretly worried about how her child would affect their lives. She had two possibilities of fathers for her child: one, a loner with a great deal of inner demons that had deserted her, and two, her best friend who wanted to raise the baby, but who possibly had even more hidden problems and about whom she was uncertain she could trust. But yet, she found herself willing to chance it all. So at last she replied, "All right, Remy. I will give you another chance. I will keep the baby, as you know I want to."
He smiled and looked relieved. "You promise?"
"Yes, I promise."
Remy kissed her cheek, and beamed. "I won't let you down, Stormy. I swear it. This baby a blessing. I finally feel like I done somethin' good for the world."
"You are too hard on yourself. You have done a lot of good for the world." That was what she told him and she meant it with all her heart. Still, thoughts nagged at her mind. I only hope I am doing the right thing.
Okay, I know this is not much. Trust me, the really good stuff is coming up...(And don't worry, you don't really think I'd leave Wolvie on the sidelines, do you?)
December
Although she had promised herself that she would put an end to Remy's drinking, Ororo never got the chance to over the next few weeks. By the time he got home at night, she was asleep, her insomnia having reverted itself into seemingly constant sleepiness, and during the days it seemed Remy was never around.
Storm, however, wasn't the only one who was growing worried about him, or at least angry with him. After he missed two Danger Room drills, Scott became furious, and another round of shouting took place. Remy, however, never stayed around after the fights, and when he would come home smashed, the problem was doomed to be repeated in an endless circle. As for the others, they tried to stay out of it, but Storm had overheard them talking about Remy's problem in whispered conversations more than once. She had even overheard Betsy tell Rogue that unless he straightened up, Scott was going to go to the Professor and have him kicked off the team. Ororo doubted that it would come to that, but inwardly, she was very worried. It seemed no one could count on the man anymore.
Professor Xavier seemed almost as tense as Scott. Ororo became convinced that Remy could not be the only cause. Well, everyone else can stand around and wonder what's going on by themselves but I'm going to find out. As it turned out, though, she didn't have to find out for herself. Xavier sent a psychic message to her asking to see her as soon as possible.
She knocked lightly on the door to the professor's study, and surprised herself by realizing that she was a little nervous. She had the feeling she wasn't going to like what Charles had to say.
"Come in, Ororo," came the professor's voice. She did, wondering if she would ever get used to never having to announce her presence to him.
"You asked to see me, Charles."
Xavier nodded, and motioned for her to have a seat. He looked distracted, something that was unusual for him. His eyebrows were furrowed, and his usually pleasant blue eyes looked distant.
Storm frowned, feeling concerned, as she sat down on the leather sofa. "There is something troubling you."
He nodded again. "I take it that was an observation, not a question." He managed a small smile, but it was obvious that something was troubling him a great deal. Storm waited for him to go on, but instead he picked up a newspaper with today's date and handed it to her. She took it curiously.
"What is this?"
Charles pointed wordlessly at one of the headlines. It read: Two More Mutants Murdered as Speculation over Friends of Humanity Increases. Storm read the headline, and glanced over the article. Shaking her head, she said, "This is horrible. Truly horrible."
"Yes, it is." Charles agreed. "The first victim was two weeks ago. A middle-aged man that apparently no one suspected as a mutant. The police officially ruled that a suicide. But," he paused and sighed. "Of course, it was not."
"You are certain it was the F.O.H.?" A sense of dread slowly crawling through her. The baby began to kick, none too gently at her lower spine. There was already the strange and obvious connection of her feelings with the childs, just as it was with the weather. And it knew right now, that she was feeling quite foreboding. The Friends of Humanity were the perhaps the biggest single threat against Xavier's dream of equality for mutants. A militaristic cult-like group that believed mutants to be a curse on humanity, and had to be exterminated. It was rare that they resorted to out-and-out murder, though. Mainly because they were cowards, and didn't want to face getting caught. Although she believed it was definitely something they would do if they knew they could get away with it.
"It was definitely the Friends of Humanity," Charles replied. He held up the newspaper. "There is a rumor that I have been privy to that leads me to believe that this is some sort of retaliation. I don't know the details, but I do know the police are being...less than zealous in pursuing them. But now there are two more murders."
"Retaliation?" She frowned, wondering briefly what that could mean. Shrugging, she added tentatively, "Surely the police will go after them now, right?"
Charles frowned heavily, and shook his head. "Perhaps. Perhaps I have too little faith in the police department. But I have heard things like this before. They are always wary about arresting these people. They fear being labeled as mutant lovers."
"That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard! It is their job to arrest these murderers!"
"You must remember, Ororo," Charles replied with a small, tired smile, "that this organization is ridiculous."
Storm leaned back against the sofa, still feeling angry. What if it were my child that was murdered? She wondered, glancing at her bulging, twitching stomach. How can the parents and loved ones of these victims live knowing that there will probably be no justice? She turned back to the professor. "What has this to do with me, Charles?"
"Quite a lot," he said. "I fear this is only the beginning of their actions. And that is bad for us."
"Yes, I realize that, but..."
Charles held up a hand, silencing her. "Let me finish. With Logan gone to who knows where, and you unable to go into to battle, we are two X-Men short. And as it appears to me right now, we will need everyone we can possibly get if the F.O.H. tries anything else. And I feel they will."
"What exactly are you saying, Charles?" Storm asked suspiciously. "Do you want me to apologize for the fact that I am pregnant and that my baby is the reason Logan took off?"
Charles raised his eyebrows. "Now it is you who is being ridiculous. You know that the X-Men all support you in your impending motherhood."
Storm nodded, feeling her face slightly warm. "Well, what is it, then?"
"Part of the reason I asked you here was just to inform you of the situation, as I have done with everyone." He paused and cleared his throat. "Everyone that is, except Gambit. And he is mainly the reason I asked to speak to you."
"I suspected as much. You want me to convince him to stop drinking."
Charles leaned forward in his hoverchair, his blue eyes as serious as Ororo had ever seen. "As I said, we are already two X-Men short. And this situation with the F.O.H. is not going to be pretty. We cannot afford to lose another person, especially to something as foolhardy as alcohol."
"I am not sure I can help him, Charles. He knows how I feel, he knows how we all feel. For him, drinking is the only way he knows to deal with his problems."
"You must try, Ororo," he insisted. "I hate to put further pressures on you when I know you are under a lot already, but I feel that you are the only one he will listen to. You must try."
* * * * * * * *
Okay, so I agreed to try and reason with him. But I will not feel guilty for the team being short-handed. It was late on the same day, and Ororo was waiting for Remy to come home, trying to convince herself that she shouldn't feel as though it was her fault for not being to help out the team, and for Logan taking off. She knew it wasn't her fault, but she couldn't stop thinking about it. It seemed it was going to be a long night, but no matter what time her friend appeared, she would wait and talk to him that night. She had been over what she was going to say several times, and it had to be tonight, or she thought she might lose her nerve. And just to make sure she did, she was waiting in his room.
She had been in her friend's room many times of course, but it was not until that night that she noticed how oddly little it said about him. The only real personal thing in the room was his huge hand-crafted mahogany bed that he had had shipped from his home in New Orleans the day he decided to stay with the X- Men. It was truly beautiful craftsmanship, very old, and Storm was guessing, very expensive. She knew that he had slept in it since the day his father Jean-Luc had taken him home at the age of eight, and that it was sentimental to him. But the rest of his room was so...sterile. He had a top of the line stereo and computer, but the rest of the furniture, even the expensive works of art, were done in early 19th century French colonial, all bought, or at least he said were bought, after he came here. Stylish and tasteful, yes, but unlike the rest of his friends, he had nothing that truly revealed his personality. None of these things were really important to him. They were just there. Ororo thought of her own large collection of plants, Bobby's Baywatch posters, or Hank's innumerable books, many of them first addition and very valuable. She knew why Remy was this way, but she had wrongly assumed that after all these years living with them that he would stop acting as though he had to hide his entire life, in other words, stop acting like a thief. I guess I was wrong. For him, once a thief, always a thief.
She stood and went to look out the window for what must have been the three-hundreth time that hour alone. Glancing at her watch, she saw it was after two, but she had no idea when he might come home. It could be a very long night. Her stomach growled, and briefly her thoughts turned to having a late night snack. Maybe a Twinkie...No, she told herself, you don't need to be eating those things. So instead she made herself comfortable on Remy's bed, and switched on his table light. She picked up her copy of What to Expect When You're Expecting and started reading.
An hour later, Ororo awoke with a start. Remy was standing over his bed staring at her. She sat up, somewhat embarrassed, not having intended on falling asleep. "Whatcha doing in my room, Stormy?" he asked in a slurred voice. He reeked of cheap whiskey, as she had fully expected he would. Struggling over to a chair, he kicked off his boots, almost falling over in the process.
"I was waiting to talk to you. I didn't mean to fall asleep." She went over to help him, so he could avoid killing himself trying to get undressed. She sincerely hoped that he was clear- headed enough to reason with.
"S'okay, chere. I fall 'sleep in your room lots a times. Whatcha wanna talk to me 'bout?"
"I think you know the answer to that, my friend." She helped him over to the bed, and sat back down next to him.
"No, I don't." He insisted. He glanced down at her stomach, momentarily looking afraid. "There ain't nothing wrong with the baby, is there?"
"No, nothing like that."
"Good," he mumbled, sighing with relief. "I stopped by this store the other day that sells baby furniture. I found the perfect crib. I know I shoulda waited for you to shop wit' me, but I couldn't resist, so I ordered it. You gonna love it, I know it."
Ororo frowned, losing her train of thought. "Um...Remy, don't you think it's kind of soon to be ordering baby furniture? I'm not even five months along."
He grinned stupidly, and rested a hand on her stomach. "I know, I know, but I only want the best for my little boy or girl. What you think it gonna be, chere? I can't decide."
"Huh? Oh, I don't know. I was going to ask Hank to tell me at the ultra-sound, but he couldn't tell. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Now, anyway, Remy, about what I wanted to talk..."
"Yeah," he interrupted, leaning against the back of the bed. "I can't believe that in four months I'm gonna be a daddy. You been practicing Lamaze, Stormy? I heard that it best for you and the baby."
"Well, I was..."
"Oh, and I been thinkin' 'bout names, too. I don't really like "juniors" so how 'bout Luc for a boy? I really like Dominique for a girl, or Renee."
"I haven't really thought about..."
"Oh, yeah," Remy continued, his whole face glowing. "I almost forgot. When I bought the crib, I stopped by an electronics store. I picked out a top of the line camcorder, one of those ones with the little screens to record with. I pick it up when I go back to pay for the crib. You gotta have a camcorder to record the birth, and birthdays, and all that."
Storm grabbed his arm, and shook him, "Remy, shut up for a minute! Please, I have to talk to you."
He blinked a few times, but stopped talking. "Sorry, Stormy, I didn't mean to go on like that. Go 'head."
"Well," she began, ignoring the fact that he was calling her by that name again, and realized that her whole plan of what she had planned to say had gone right out of her head. "First of all, I really wish you hadn't gone to the trouble of shopping for the baby yet."
"I know I shoulda waited for you, but..."
"That's not it," she interrupted. "But the fact is one of the reasons I wanted to talk to you is to tell you that I'm not even sure I am going to keep the baby."
Remy's eyes went wide and his mouth dropped open. "What?! You can't be serious."
"I am serious," Storm replied, trying to keep her voice calm. "It is something that I have been thinking a lot about. I want what's best for the child, and I am not sure that is here, and with us."
"What are you talkin' 'bout?" he said, his voice high and tight. "How can you do that to your baby? How can you do that to me?"
"Remy, you must understand. I want what's best for the baby. And I am not sure that bringing a baby here and now is a good idea, not to mention safe." She quickly explained to him what she and the professor had discussed earlier about the F.O.H. and how if they decided to target any more innocent mutants that it may mean trouble for the X-Men.
Remy frowned and shook his head. He wasn't buying that as reason enough for Storm to suddenly decide to give the baby up for adoption. "So you decide that just because we may have to get a little rough for awhile wit' de F.O.H. that it not safe to have the baby here?"
"No," she said. "That's only part of it. The main reason is because I don't want you around the child the way you are now. The main reason is because of you, Remy."
Although she didn't think it possible, he actually looked more shocked than he had a minute ago. His normally carefree expression was replaced by one that looked as if he had just been stabbed in the back by his best friend. But then, to Remy, he felt as though he had.
Deep down, Ororo really did hate having to say this to him. Even though she was furious at how stupid and reckless he had been acting lately, he was still her best friend after all, and she hated hurting him. "Remy," she said softly, touching his arm. "You know you have a problem. Everyone does, but you just will not see it. You really are leaving me no choice. I simply refuse to subject my child to having a drunk for a father."
For a long while, he didn't respond, simply sat there staring at her stomach as if he could communicate telepathically with it. The red of his eyes glowed with emotion when at last he turned to Ororo. "You really think I'd hurt you or my own baby just 'cause I get drunk? Is that what you worried 'bout?"
Storm shook her head adamantly. "Of course not. I know you better then that, and I know you would never hurt me or the baby, but that's not the point. If you really love this child as much as I think you do, as much as I do, than you know that he or she deserves a father who's sober. What if, one night after you had too much to drink, you get into a fight and get hurt, or Goddess forbid, killed, because your common sense is seriously diminished? Or for that matter, you could get into any sort of accident. Look at you! You can hardly walk when you come home. The point is, how can I trust you with a baby when you are like this?"
Again, Remy didn't answer right away. Ororo watched as he stood up, using the bed post to maintain his balance, and stood next to the bed with his back to her. For a second, she considered leaving, wondering if he was going to say anything at all. Finally, he turned around. "You right, 'Roro. You right 'bout everything. I been a really jerk. You, and everyone been trying to tell me I gotta problem for months now, but I ain't been listening."
Storm was surprised. Surprised that he had backed down that easily. "I am glad you understand, my friend. I'm glad I finally got through to you."
Remy sat back down on the bed, and took his friend's hand. "I make you a deal, chere. I promise to give up drinking, prove that I responsible 'nough to be a father, whatever you want me to do. And you promise to give me another chance. You promise not to give the baby up for adoption."
Storm stared at her friend, and shook her head. "Remy, this is too large an issue for me to just 'make a deal' on. There's more to it than that. Besides, do you really think you can stop drinking, just like that?"
He nodded slowly. "I think I can. As long as I know what's at sake, then I won't touch another drop. I know there are other issues here, chere, but we work through them. You say you know me, chere. Well, I know you, too. I know you don't want to do this. You want the baby s'much as I do." Squeezing her hand, he added, "Please, Ro. Promise me."
His words ran through her, paining her heart because she knew he was right. She didn't want to give up her baby. In a perfect world, she would be happily married, in love, and would have a beautiful home, and a loving husband before she had children. She wouldn't have to worry about her friends and herself being targeted by people because of what they are, she wouldn't worry about not being there for the people she considered her family, or about having her child grow up in an environment that could be dangerous and sorrowful. But, as she realized, this was not a perfect world. She was pregnant, but did not have a loving husband or a perfect home and family. She had friends, who, for the most part, supported her, but probably secretly worried about how her child would affect their lives. She had two possibilities of fathers for her child: one, a loner with a great deal of inner demons that had deserted her, and two, her best friend who wanted to raise the baby, but who possibly had even more hidden problems and about whom she was uncertain she could trust. But yet, she found herself willing to chance it all. So at last she replied, "All right, Remy. I will give you another chance. I will keep the baby, as you know I want to."
He smiled and looked relieved. "You promise?"
"Yes, I promise."
Remy kissed her cheek, and beamed. "I won't let you down, Stormy. I swear it. This baby a blessing. I finally feel like I done somethin' good for the world."
"You are too hard on yourself. You have done a lot of good for the world." That was what she told him and she meant it with all her heart. Still, thoughts nagged at her mind. I only hope I am doing the right thing.
Okay, I know this is not much. Trust me, the really good stuff is coming up...(And don't worry, you don't really think I'd leave Wolvie on the sidelines, do you?)