"Huh," another punch swung through the air followed by a round house kick and a left hook. Marie stopped and tried to regain her breath. She then glance at the clock. Marie had just spent the last forty minutes practicing her kickboxing moves. 'Wish they had a punching bag in this room. Ah kinda feel silly kicking and punching the air', she thought to herself as she walked over to the table where a towel laid. She picked up the towel and dabbed the sweat away from her face. She threw the towel back on the table and knocked a stack of papers on the floor.

"Great," Marie huffed as she bent over and began to gather all the papers. She was almost done when she spotted a card on the floor. She leaned over and picked it up. She sighed when she realized it was the card Remy slipped her.

Marie had spent the morning analyzing and dissecting what the card could possibly mean. But a few questions still plagued Marie. Did the Queen of Hearts have any significance? What does the card mean? And most of all Marie wondered how he put the card into her back pocket without her noticing?

Marie shook her head. 'Great, Ah'm startin to obsess,' she thought as she threw the card back on the table and stood up. 'Ah just meet this guy and Ah can't stop thinking bout him. . . Lawrd, girl. This is the first guy who shows a little interest in yah and look how you act. . . . And yah don't even know if he is interested in you. . . Stop it now before yah turn into one of yahr lovesick characters,' she reasoned with herself as she went in the bathroom to take a shower, trying to distract herself from obsessively thinking about the card and Remy.

Half an hour later, she reemerged from the bathroom and quickly dressed. The shower did not help in distracting Marie, in fact it increased her curiosity. She decided that to rid her curiosity and obsession, she would have to call him. Marie slowly walked over to the phone with Remy's business card in hand. She slowly dialed the first four numbers but quickly hung up the phone. She would call him later.

Right now she had more important things. Like going to the store. A pathetic excuse but it was enough. Marie quickly grabbed the company's credit card and walked out of the room.

- - -

An hour later, Marie returned with her arms full of bags. She dropped the bags and collapsed on the couch. Just when she was about to close her eyes to take a catnap the phone rang. She reached over and grabbed the phone.

"Hello?" with her eyes still closed.

"Oh. Hey Scott. Yea Ah got your messages. Yah know, Ah think yahr wife would get jealous if she knew how many times yah called. How's Jean doing by the way?" She asked as she began to bite her finger nails.

"Well Ah was going to call you but Ah kinda got distracted with my writing," she lied.

"Yea Ah got a new direction to write in. And no Ah'm not going to tell you what the book is about, you should know how Ah work by now."

"Well Ah guess yah could say Ah found a muse down here," she glanced at the Queen of Hearts laying on the table.

"Right." Marie said cutting Scott short. "Well Ah better get back to writing, yah know mah creative juices are just flowin. And Ah don't want to ruin the moment. Ok. Talk tah yah later. Bye Scott." Marie hung up the phone and let out a sigh. Talk about obsessive, she thought to herself as she stretched her arms over her head. She slowly got of the couch, grabbed the bags, and walked into the next room.

She emptied the bags on the table and stood staring at a pack of cards, a bottle of Old Spice Cologne, a brown trench coat, a bottle of bourbon, and a carton of Marlboro cigarettes. If she was not going to see the real Remy then the next best thing was to synthetically create Remy's atmosphere.

She then draped the trench coat on the back of the desk chair. Next she unwrapped the carton of cigarettes, opened a pack and took out a couple of cigarettes. She placed the open pack on the desk as she pressed the cigarettes in the ashtray creating an appearance that the cigarettes have smoked. She placed the ashtray at the end of the desk. She then reached behind and grabbed the bottle of bourbon. She opened it, and gulped down some of the bourbon. She scrunched her face up as the bourbon ran down her throat. 'Maybe that wasn't the smarted idea.' She thought as she shook her head as her way of trying to rid the burning sensation.

"Bourbon is definitely an acquired taste," she said to herself as she placed the bottle next to a packet of the hotels stationary.

Marie took a step back and stared at her 'work of art'. 'It's still missing something'. She looked around and grasped the cologne. She took it out of the box, and tossed the box aside. Marie moved closer to the trench coat and started spraying the coat with it. She paused and inhaled the strong, husky aroma. "Hmmmm," she murmured as she continued to spray the cologne in the air. She stopped and inhaled the smell, "Hmmmm, Ah love that smell." And continued to spray some more until she started to cough. "But too much of it is deadly," she coughed and backed away from the over-whelming aroma.

She moved back to the table to open the box of playing cards. She began to clumsily shuffle the cards as she paced around the room. At times she would utter various ideas and plots for her book but would always end up criticizing each one. As her skill shuffling the cards grew so did her frustration. Marie sat on the edge of the table as she stared at the corner of the room filled with various items that reminded her of Remy. She dubbed it "Remy's corner." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She then opened her eyes and arose to her feet and began to pace once more.

"What about if he seduces every woman he meets, desperately trying tah find his one true love. Thinking that the more women he meets and seduces the more chance he has tah find his love. And before he leaves each woman, he leaves his calling card, The King of Hearts." She said as she smiled at the card on the table and continued, "And the women begin tah talk about the 'King of Hearts', and his quest for his love, and they desperately want tah be his love, so they do everything in their power tah be it. Well one day he meets a woman who he begins tah fall for but turns out she is about tah say her vows to become a nun." Marie stopped pacing and shook her head. "No the nun concept will get too messy. How bout if she is an astronaut about tah be sent on a dangerous mission. No, that's just ridiculous. Well, Ah can work out the detail about the girl later. " She said as she began to shuffle the cards.

"Well everything is going lovely between the two but they have tah overcome an obstacle, Ah don't know what yet. But then one of the women he seduced becomes enraged with jealousy. She was obsessed with Remy, she even framed the card he left her and has been following him around believing that she is his one true love. That's it!" Marie exclaimed. "Just have to work out a few kinks but that's it! That's my story!" She was so ecstatic about finally developing a plot for her book that she dropped her cards all over the floor. But Marie didn't even notice. She ran to grab her notebook and began writing the outline of her story. Soon she started writing the story.

She was so involved in her story that she didn't notice that six hours passed. The only thing to break her concentration was her stomach growling. When her stomach's growling became so loud that she could not ignore it any more, she dropped her pen and closed her book. She raised her arms above her head and began to stretch.

"Ugh. Six hours hunching over table is just cruel and unusual punishment." She said to herself as she grabbed her bag and left her room.

Minutes later she was roaming the streets of New Orleans on quest for dinner. She quickly passed over the fancy restaurants and finally decided to grab a sandwich at the local diner.

- -

An hour later Marie emerged from the diner with a full stomach. Excited about going back to write her book, she hastily walked through the streets. She sharply turned a corner and collided with someone, sending Marie on her back, and her head smacked against the concrete. She laid there with her eyes closed and let out a groan just to make sure she was still conscious.

"Marie. Marie, are y'alright. . . Je suis si désolé. . . Marie look at me. Can y'hear me?" asked a husky voice.

Either Marie had a concussion and was becoming delusional or the man she crashed into knew her name. Fearing the former, she slowly opened up her right eye. And she saw him. Remy was kneeling on the ground leaning over her, and cradling her head with one hand as he stroked the side of her face with the other. She looked at his face, which was showing such concern, and worry that is caused a few butterflies to flutter in her stomach.

"Marie, can y'hear me? Are y'alright, chere?" He asked as his concern grew.

Marie uttered, "Depends. Is mah head still attached tah mah body?"

Remy smiled but his concern did not disappear. "Oui, chere. But is yo'ot'er eye ok?"

She realized that she was still staring at him with one eye open and the other closed. She slowly opened the other eye and smiled in embarrassment.

Marie's head was pounding, her elbow throbbing, and a large jagged rock was digging into her back, but Marie did not even notice. Laying in Remy's arms, she didn't notice anything more than how Remy's hands felt against her cheeks, and how soothing his voice was whispering in French. He was whispering too softly for Marie to accurately translate it but it was mostly words of comfort, and some were him yelling at himself for not paying more attention. Marie laid in pure bliss.

"I'm not gonna move y' yet, chere. I want t' make sure nothin' broken," he said as he checked over her.

Marie suddenly felt foolish for lying there as long as she did, "No. No that's all right," she then self-consciously laughed. "Ah'm just stunned. Nothin's broken," she replied as she suddenly sat up at the same time Remy turned his head causing the two to bump heads.

"I'm sorry." They replied at the same time as they stared at one another as each was rubbing their forehead. They smiled at their situation and each other.

"Twice in one night, Lebeau. Yah are battin a thousand," she smirked while rubbing the pain in her forehead away.

"Well, chere. Figured y' had a hard head. Never knew it could be dat hard," he grinned as he continued to rub his forehead. He then stood up.

"Well tell meh LeBeau, do yah always treat girls like this," she said as she tried to push herself up but Remy picked her up and set her down on her feet with ease.

"Non. Just da filles I like." He grinned as he stared at Marie and stepped closer to her.

Marie blushed but quickly tried to change the subject, "Well do yah always lahke to hang around in dark alleys," she motioned down to the dark alley.

Remy shook his head and smiled. "Nah. But promise me, chere. Don' go down dis alley. Dere are lot more scarier people down dere dan me."

Marie looked down the alley than back at Remy. Marie always had a remarkable ability at reading people. She could always tell when they were lying and if the person was trust worthy. She could capture anyone's emotions, feelings, and beliefs in just a brief meeting. This is perhaps why she is an excellent writer, being able to articulate what she sees. She could tell by Remy's tone of voice that he was sincere and concerned. But when she looked into his eyes, she saw he was hiding something. And Marie was determined to find out exactly what he was hiding.

"Well how bout I give y'dat tour now?" he asked interrupting her train of thought.

Marie smiled and nodded; Remy then guided her out of the alley back into the crowded streets.

- - -

Three hours later, Remy and Marie were still walking down the streets, with their hands full of bags that held cheap New-Orleans souvenirs and their hearts full of laughter.

"Now, see I told y' chere I'd show y' what N'Awlins is all about," he joked while they stopped at a corner.

"Yea, yah right, where else would Ah find," Marie paused to rummage through one of the bags. "This piece of treasure." She added as she put a green foam hat that was in the shape of an alligator that read 'New Orleans Best', on Remy's head. "Yea that's truly what New Orleans is all about," she laughed at Remy.

"What are y'talkin bout, chere. Dis is a genuine artifact," he said while motioning towards that hat with a smile. This caused Marie to laugh even more.

"Yah know, yah can take off that hat now." She said continuing laughing.

"I know," he replied as they continued to walk down the street. Marie had to give it to him. Only he could pull of wearing a cheap, foam neon green alligator hat and still make it look good. But he was the type that could make anything look good.

"Yah're not taking it off are yah?"

"Non."

"And why not?" Marie asked

"Cus it says 'N'Awlins Best' and dat what Remy be. N'Orleans best," he joked causing Marie to laugh, "Don't be jealous of da hat, chere."

"Oh, Ah'll try to contain mah jealousy." Marie replied sarcastically causing Remy to chuckle.

They continued playfully bickering with each other as they walked down the street until they arrived to Marie's hotel. Marie stopped and turned to face Remy.

"Well, Ah really had a nice ti-" Marie began.

"Yo' not saying goodnight yet, are y' chere?"

"Well it's-" Marie glanced down at her watch. "Almost midnight, Ah had a long day,-" Remy chuckled.

"Non. I meant-. Well Remy's always a gentleman. I always see un fille t' her door," Remy replied causing Marie to raise her eyebrow. "Non, chere, get yo' mind out of de gutter. Not like dat." He chuckled, "Unless y'want me to dan I can put aside m' gentlemanly ways." He winked, causing Marie to playfully punch him in the arm and pull him through the hotel's revolving doors.

They were soon standing in front of Marie's hotel room. "I had a really nice time-" Remy stopped when Marie started to laugh.

"Ah'm sorry but Ah can't take yah serious when yah are wearing that hat," she laughed.

Remy smiled and quickly took off the hat, "Fine, chere. Y' win." He put the hat in the bag and then put down the bags he was carrying. "Like I was saying, I really had a nice and fun time tonight. In fact it was more fun than I had in along time."

"Yea, Ah know what yah mean." Marie replied.

"Bien. Will y' accompany me on a date tomorrow night?" he asked with a genuine smile

"Why Mistah LeBeau Ah had no idea yah were this formal," Marie smiled. "Why yes, kind sir, Ah would love tah accompany yah on a date," she curtseyed. Remy smiled and bowed in return.

"Here let me get you mah number," she said as she turned and opened the door. She walked in her room and motioned for Remy to follow. Remy picked up the bags and walked in after Marie.

Marie quickly hurried into the other room to look for a pen and paper. "Yah can just throw the bags anywhere," she called from the other room.

Remy put the bags on top of a table. "Looks like y' didn' get t' finish yo' game of 52 pick up," he said as he bent down and started picking up the cards that surrounded the table.

Marie stopped her search for a pen and paper to silently repeat what Remy just said, and then it finally registered. The cards she dropped earlier. Which means it would be only a matter of time before he saw the corner. The trench coat. The Bourbon. The Marlboro cigarettes. And the smell of his cologne on everything. He was bound to notice. Marie listened for Remy to comment on it but he made none. Then she began to believe that she was lucky enough that he had not noticed. She quickly grabbed a scrap piece of paper and wrote down her number and walked into the next room.

There was Remy shuffling the cards and staring at the corner. "Should I be jealous?" he said motioning to the corner.

"Of what?" Marie asked flabbergastedly, silently cursing herself for being so god damned unlucky.

"Does all of dat belong to yo' boyfriend?" he asked gravely as he continued to skillfully shuffle the deck.

Marie shook her head, "No. No, Ah don't have a boyfriend, and that stuff is mine."

Remy looked into her eyes for a moment before agreeing that she was telling the truth about not having a boyfriend. But he knew she was lying about the stuff being hers. She didn't smoke and she was a whiskey drinker, not a Bourbon drinker like himself. And she definitely did not wear cologne. He nodded and then quickly became in a lighter mood, "Well, if I can make a suggestion, chere. I would like t' see y' in de trench coat. We could match," he grinned but his pocket began to vibrate as he reached into it and pulled out a cell phone, and answered it. After a few murmurs in French Remy hung up the cell phone and apologized to Marie.

He walked over to Marie. "I'm sorry, Marie, but I gotta get going now."

"Right," Marie replied as she led him to the door and then handed him her number. "It's not a business card, like yahrs but it'll do." She smiled as she opened the door.

"Well, Marie it has been a merveilleux night. I will call y' t'morrow," he reached for her hand. "La bonne nuit mon ange doux." He kissed her hand before leaving.

Marie watched as his trench coat flapped behind him and soon he disappeared around the corner. Marie sighed as she closed the door. "Now that's certainly not going to help mah situation," Marie said as she climbed into bed and soon fell asleep.

- - -

Marie woke up and glanced at her clock that flashed 2:06 A.M. She sighed and rolled over. She spent the day watching TV, pretending that she didn't care that Remy didn't call when he promised he would. She forbidded herself to act like one of those boy crazy girls who are so dramatic and dependent. She was a strong, independent woman who didn't need anyone. But she spent the whole day waiting for a call that never came. But Marie would think about it more tomorrow. Right now, she had to concentrate on falling asleep.

Marie woke up in a cold sweat. She sat up in bed trying to regain her breath. She glanced up at the clock that flashed 3:56. She finally caught her breath and got up and walked to the bathroom. She splashed her face with cold sweat and lingered there for a while before walking back into the bedroom. There she collapsed on the bed and started crying. She curled herself up in a ball as she hugged a pillow and cried into it.

"Ah'm so alone," she repeated to herself in between her cries. She then felt two strong arms wrap around her and pull her closer.

Marie looked up, and saw Remy holding her. "Remy what are yah doing here?" she asked as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I couldn't bare to let y' cry yo'self t' sleep one more night," he replied as he wiped away her tears with his thumb.

"But what do yah mean one-" Marie began.

"Shhhh, ma chere," he whispered as he pulled her closer to him and wrapped his arms around her tighter. "Just go to sleep. We'll talk about dat tomorrow." He kissed her forehead and continued, "Right now go t' sleep m' ange." He said as he ran his fingers through her hair and whispered soothing comforts in French and soon she fell asleep.

How's that for updating? I said I would update in a week and I actually did, SCORE!! lol, I really liked this chapter and I hope you guys did too!

I am so glad you guys like this story! Thanks for the reviews guys, positive reinforcement does wonders for my self esteem, keep it up, lol. You guys are the best. If you guys have any ideas or comments feel free to tell me.

So do a "Ebert and Roeper" and tell me if it's a thumbs up, down or just if- y. Well basically just tell me what you think and believe me when I say, I am not above begging for reviews, lol So here goes....Review please please please, please please please! Pretty please with a cherry on top! That's right I brought in the big guns, cherry and all. How's that for begging? lol