Marie walked into the grand entrance of her hotel. Remy followed behind her as he looked at the quaint decorative motif and the chandelier that softly lit the big room, giving it an extra romantic glow. He enjoyed pretending it was his first time here, especially because of Marie's reactions to his comments. He whistled, "Y'must be pretty well known for yo'writin." He grinned at Marie who awkwardly nodded.

"Come on, LeBeau, yah've seen this place before."

"Oui. But it seems t'get ever more beautiful each time I see it, like de way y'do, chere."

Marie rolled her eyes and nudged him towards the elevator as she walked ahead of him. She turned around to make sure Remy was still following her, and he was. She turned around again only to see Sam standing in front of her.

"Oh hi, Miss Prince-Ah mean Diane" he slightly blushed, an action he usually did in her presence.

"Well, hey Sam." Marie responded, as she looked at him then the elevator door that she was so close too.

"Ah'm sorry that yah're leavin us so soon," he smiled, "Ah hope yah enjoyed yahr stay with us and that yah'll come back real soon."

"Why thank yah, Sam," Marie said with a smile. She appreciated his kindness. But there is always a time and place for things. And now wasn't the time. Especially with him calling her Diane and Remy lurking behind her somewhere. Hopefully he didn't hear him, but that was highly unlikely. Remy seemed to pick up on all the things a person didn't want any one to see or hear.

Marie looked at Sam again and smiled. She thought the conversation was over but apparently he didn't since he was still standing in front of her. What else could she say to him? She shifted her weight from one foot to the other as she tried to ignore the rising level of uneasiness.

As if sensing Marie's awkwardness, Remy came and held her hand as he led her to the elevator. He turned around and looked at Sam as he said, "Catch y'later, mon ami." And before Marie could say goodbye to Sam, the elevator doors closed, leaving just her and Remy in the elevator.

"Well what floor, Diane?" Remy grinned.

Marie looked at him and blushed slightly, "So yah heard that, huh?"

"Oui," he smirked, "But I dunno who's de bigger dork 'ere. Y'for checkin into a hotel under Wonder Women's real name, or for me knowin and gettin dat."

"That be yah," she smirked at him as she pushed the nine button, causing the elevator to begin to make its way to the ninth floor.

"Dat would have been m'guess." He grinned as he looked down at Marie who was smiling at how he put her at ease with the whole situation.

"Just say de word and I will be de Batman to yo'Wonder Woman."

"Alright, LeBeau, I think y'just stepped up a whole other level. Yah are now officially a nerd."

"I love it when y'talk dirty t'me, chere." He huskily replied.

Marie smiled as she rolled her eyes. They waited in silence until the elevator doors opened again.

Marie walked out and Remy followed. She led him down the hall to where her room was. She took out her key from her back pocket and opened the door. She walked in and Remy followed closely behind her.

"Sorry for the mess." Marie apologized

"Y'really want t'leave N'Awlins dat bad, chere?" he whistled as he looked around the room. Clothes, paper, shoes, and wrappers were scattered all over the room.

Marie grabbed the clothes that laid on the back of the couch. "Nah, Ah'm just a horrible packer," she said as she walked over to a duffle bag and threw the clothes on top of it, "And if yah think this is bad, yah should see meh unpack."

"I'll take yo'word on dat," he said as he scanned around the large living room in the elegant suit. He walked over to a neon green object that caught his sight; it was wedged in between some clothes. Remy picked it up. "Were y'gonna tell me bout dis?" he asked.

Marie stopped trying to some what straighten up the room and looked up. She saw Remy motion to her almost packed duffle bag and then to the neon green alligator hat they bought on their first night out. She smiled and walked over to Remy.

"So yo'were just gonna take off with this and not tell me?" he repeated.

"Well what do yah expect meh tah do? It's not like yah cared about it anyway, so don't try and pretend," Marie teased.

"Wat are y'talkin bout?" Remy asked, "I was dere, I was de one dat bought it."

"Oh yea sure yah were there in the beginning, but where were yah after that? Ah was on my own. What do yah expect me tah do?" she asked, her light banter matched his.

"Haven' y'ever heard about a t'ing called joint custody?"

"Oh, too late for that, LeBeau. Yah had yahr chance for that. Now Ah won custody due to yahr lack of visitation and commitment," she smirked as she grabbed the hat from Remy.

"Well I'm here now, ain' I?" he teased as he motioned to grab the hat back. But Marie saw his arm quickly reach out for the hat, and she switched hands so the hat was now out of his reach.

"Too late," she replied as she began to walk back victoriously with the hat in her hands. But victory didn't last very long. Remy hurdled over the couch and surprised Marie when he snaked his arm around her and grabbed the hat from her grasp.

"Hey! That won't get yah anywhere, LeBeau," she replied as she turned around to face him. Remy stood with the hat in his hands and a victorious smirk on his face.

"I believe I'm already dere, chere," he teased, "Why else would y'invite me back to yo'room?"

"So Ah wouldn't make a scene if Ah yelled or kicked yahr ass," she answered as she quickly lunged at the hat. But faster than the eye could follow, Remy moved the hat out to his side with one hand, while he wrapped his hand around Marie's, trying to stop her from snatching the hat from him again. Maries face's grimaced and she looked at her hand. Remy followed her look of pain to his hand that was still wrapped around hers. He loosened his grip, allowing himself to see what caused her look of pain. But Marie didn't give him a chance; she quickly pulled her hand out of his. She turned around and nursed her sore hand as walked towards the bay windows that overlooked the crowded streets below. "What did yah want tah talk about?" The light carefree atmosphere that filled the hotel room seconds earlier was now depleted by Marie's serious tone.

"Nice try t'change the subject," he said as he took a step, afraid to get any closer to her.

"Ah'm serious, we're here now and Ah don't have that much time left, so what did yah want tah talk about?"

"Fine den, can I see yo'hand?"

"Why do ah have a feelin that's not what yah wanted tah talk about?"

"It's not, but I gotta start somewhere, hehn?" Remy slowly walked over to Marie afraid that if he walked any faster he would erupt her flaring temper. "Well I t'ought we would talk while we drank some coffee but now it seems we'll be talkin' while I fix yo'sore hand."

"Ah don't think--"

"Now," Remy interrupted which stopped Marie from further arguing her point, "Y'go over dere and sit while I get de necessary supplies." He then motioned to the small table that divided the living room suite and the bedroom.

Marie looked at him. She was stunned at his sudden change in attitude. She tried to gather her thoughts together but she couldn't; this was the first time something like this happened to her and she wasn't quite sure how to react. Marie nodded while she walked over to the table and sat down on one of the chairs. Her mind still reeling, trying to figure out what she would say next. She was completely dumbfounded, and leaving a writer speechless happens very rarely. In fact, some may say a speechless writer might be an oxymoron.

"Could y'point me in de direction where de supplies are?"

"Ah think in the bathroom over there," she answered with a motion to the door to her right.

"Bien," and with that he was on his quest to search for some first aid supplies. He shortly returned with a first aid kit and some wet washcloths in his hand.

"Ah didn't even think they would have all that here," Marie remarked, as she looked at all the first aid supplies that Remy laid on the table. Then with great skill and practice, he took off his trench coat with one smooth motion and draped it over the back of the chair. He sat down as he rolled up the sleeves of his black dress shirt just above his elbow.

"Y'forget dat dis is N'Awlins and dey always have t'prepare for de crazy stuff people do 'ere," he replied as he opened the kit and began to take some of the contents "Here let me see yo'hand," he looked at Marie who did not move, "Come one, chere."

Marie tried to overcome her stubbornness and laid her sore left hand on the table. Remy gently cradled her hand with his. "Bien, chere. I always did want t'play doctor," he added with a wink. His comment caused Marie to roll her eyes and pull her hand out of his.

"Ah can do this mahself, thank yah."

"Oui, but it's no fun for moi t'watch, non? Here just let me fix up yo'hand and I promise I'll behave myself. Scouts honor."

Marie raised an eyebrow. "Why don't Ah believe that yah were ever a scout?" she smirked as she put her hand once again on the table.

"Just wait and see, chere. Not even an eagle scout could bandage yo'hand so good as I'm goin t'," he smirked. He then moved her hand closer to him for a better angle to dress her hand. He flinched when he saw her hand. It was swollen and seemed to be one big black and blue bruise. His eyes traced to her knuckles. There were four gashes that were covered with dried blood. Remy hesitated, "Is broken? Can y'move it?"

"It's not broken. It just looks worse than it is," she smiled, "Hell, Lebeau, good thing yah aren't a doctor. Yah would have yahr patient hyperventilating over making more of his wound than it really is."

Remy kept to his word and refrained from turning her comment into one of his notoriously famous sexual jokes. He would behave himself even if it killed him. No use in getting her annoyed when the night is still young and he has the rest of the night to do that. He just smirked at Marie's comment as if to show her that he could have turned it into a sexual one, but at the same time to let her know that he would keep his promise.

Just as Remy made a promise, Marie also made a silent promise with herself. For some unknown reason she was tired of analyzing her actions, his actions, her thoughts, and feelings. And she didn't know why but she promised herself that she would push back any impulse to dissect every action and thought.

Maybe she was really tired of letting her mind lead her to places she didn't want to be. Maybe she was overwhelmed with trying to stay in tune with her mind while keeping up with her surroundings. Maybe she just needed a break from everything. Or maybe she subconsciously wanted to see where this night would lead without any boundaries.

Maybe.

Remy held a cotton ball over the mouth of a rubbing alcohol bottle and inverted it, allowing the cotton ball to soak up some of the alcohol. He flipped the bottle back over and placed it on the table. He then cradled Marie's hand in his left palm. Her hand was slightly shaking which Remy thought was just a side effect from the pain her hand was causing her; but her hand was shaking uncontrollably because his gentle caresses made her nervous.

His light touches sent a tingling sensation through out her body. Her heart felt like it leapt out of her chest and landed right into his hand. She tried to control her breathing but it only seemed to become more rapid the longer she looked at him.

His touches were so foreign, which confused Mare even more; she did not know how to react. It felt like she was dead but now was finally awoken by his caresses. Like the way Prince Charming came to Sleeping Beauty, and awoke her with a kiss and freed her from the spell she was under. But instead of Prince Charming it was Remy, a charming stranger cloaked in a trench coat. And she did not consider herself in any way to be Sleeping Beauty. But like any other girl, it was just fun to pretend anyway.

But at the same time his touch was so familiar. Her body knew exactly how to react to his touch. Her heart raced, her breathing staggered, and her skin ached for more. 'Okay' she thought to herself as she shook her head, 'Maybe it is impossible for me to stop being analytical. But at least Ah can tone down the level of it or at least occupy myself with something else.'

"Hold still," he soothed as he began to wipe the dried blood away and clean her cuts. The alcohol stung and Marie bit down on her lip, trying to replace the pain from her hand with the pain from her lip. Remy looked up at her, and smiled, "Do you always do dat?"

"Do what?" she asked back as she watched him softly rubbed the cotton ball around her knuckles, trying not to cause her anymore unnecessary pain.

"Try t'hid and fight de pain."

"Do yah always do that?" Marie asked turning his question against him.

"Do what?"

"Try tah psychoanalyze some ones action when yah don't even know them," she smiled.

Remy paused and looked up at her. He winked, "I t'ink dats a 'oui' for bot' questions."

They sat in silence. Marie observed Remy. Short pieces of his hair framed his face as his head was lowered. Marie stifled a small laugh as she studied the look on his face. He was so concentrated that Marie could have sworn he looked like he was trying to detonate a ready to explode bomb, instead of taking care of her hand.

Remy then began to clean the gashes with a new hydrogen peroxide soaked cotton ball causing Marie to flinch in pain and uttered, "Ow."

"Sorry," he whispered apologetically with a small smile.

"Ah'm sorry too," she offered diffidently as she ignored any sense that screamed at her to stop talking, "Ah have a nasty habit of yelling at the people who try to help meh."

Remy stopped; he was taken aback by her honest comment but quickly recovered, "I'm sorry t'. I have a nasty 'abit of yelling at de people who I try t'help. T'ink we're a perfect match dere." He then cut a strip of bandage and continued, "But I should have never said dose 'orrible t'ings. It's not m'place, I mean we just met and like y'said we dun' know eachot'er."

"Yea," was all Marie could muster together as a response.

Remy gently pressed the bandage along her knuckles. He let his hand linger on top of hers for a moment longer but removed it before she could become suspicious of his lingering touches and stolen glances.

"Aren't Ah suppose tah ice mah hand for the first 48 hours?"

"Oui," he nodded as he took the ace bandage out of the kit, "But I don't t'ink dat yo're gonna do dat. So dis ace bandage will keep yo'hand from swellin anymo'. An' maybe yo'll give it a chance t'heal properly." He then began to wrap the bandage around her hand. He started between her thumb and forefinger and vigilantly wrapped it securely around her hand. He continued wrapping the ace bandage from her knuckles down to about three inches passed her wrist and then back up again. He made sure there was extra support around her wrist. "So yo're just gonna have t'hold back on punchin out drunks for at least a week or two," he teased.

"Is that the doctor's orders?" Marie asked sarcastically.

"'Absolutely," he said fastening the wrap securely, "What did y'expect de take two aspirin an' call me in de morning line? I'm more original dan dat."

"Ah have no doubt bout that."

"Et je suis fait," he said laying the French on pretty thick. He knew the ladies loved it when he spoke it. "It's real oeuvre d'art, non?" he asked while admiring his work and finished with a kiss on her bandaged hand.

Marie nodded, "Yah did a real nice job." She looked down at her hand and then back to Remy and blurted out, "Let's celebrate."

Remy watched in amusement as Marie stood up and walked over to another table across the room. "Celebrate what?" He coyly asked.

"Ah dunno, yah pick a reason," she smiled as she grabbed the bottle of bourbon and two glasses. She quickly returned to the table. She set the two glasses down and poured a generous amount into each. She handed Remy a glass and was about to take a gulp of bourbon out of hers but was stopped when she felt Remy's hand on hers. This caused Marie to look at him with confusion.

He grinned, "Hold on dere, chere. We gotta make a toast first." He then stood up and raised his glass with hers, "Here's t'not needin' a reason t'celebrate."

Marie smiled and clinked her glass with his. She took a healthy sip of the bourbon and scrunched her nose as the bourbon ran down her throat. While Remy drank his, he watched Marie over his glass and smiled when he saw her nose scrunch.

"Why do y'ave dis, if y'dun' like de taste of it?" he asked as he lowered his glass in amusement.

"Well, it tastes a lot better the next morning," Marie smiled as she sat down.

Remy nodded in agreement, "Dat's for sure."

He followed her suit and sat down across from her. They continued to drink in silence. Remy cleared his throat and asked, "Why y'leavin N'Awlins so soon?"

Marie shrugged, "Ah dunno. Ah guess Ah got what Ah needed."

"And what is dat?"

"Well that's where it gets a little complicated," she said cryptically.

"Hmm, understandable," he continued, "But I have a feelin dat y'dun' want t'leave."

"Well aren't yah presumptuous. 'Sides like yah said before yah don't know meh," she smiled and drank the remaining bourbon in her glass. She then stood up and walked over to the bay windows. Her back to him. She had no idea what led her to get up, let alone pull a move that was a common action in soap operas.

"I t'ink I know a good amount," he said as he poured himself another glass of bourbon.

"Oh yea, what do yah know about me?" she asked, curious as to what he thought she was like.

"Well," he downed the bourbon and continued, "Y'see what ot'ers miss. De littlest detail dat most people would t'ink is trivial an' overlook it but not you. Y'notice it and explain it in a way dat de detail becomes de most beautiful t'ing. Y'have de most incredible green eyes I have ever seen. Y'have a awf'ly good left hook. And y'tend t'answer questions with anot'er question."

He stood up and began to walk slowly over to Marie who still had her back to him. His slow paced walk matched the slow tempo of his words. He slowly exhaled the breath that he didn't know he was holding and continued, "Y'let yo'actions speak louder den yo'words. An' right now yo'screamin for 'elp. When yo're nervous yo'always twirl yo'ring around yo'fingers," He looked down and sure enough Marie was subconsciously playing with the ring. She smirked a little at his accuracy.

"And whenever I get close to y', yo'hands start t'shake," he whispered huskily in her ear. Marie looked down and blushed as she tried to control her shaking hands. It was true; she never liked anyone invading her personal space. She felt that if some one stood close enough, he would be able to see through her façade and see her with all her faults she desperately wanted to hide. By keeping everyone at an arm's distance let her be in control. And that's what made her feel safe.

Marie turned around to face Remy. She smiled sweetly and when she responded her voice almost cracked with emotion, "They are all observations, Remy. That doesn't mean yah don't know who Ah am."

"Den why won't y'tell me?"

For some unknown reason, Marie could not respond to that question. Instead she smiled sweetly at him, and tucked a lock of his auburn hair behind his ear; a habitual action Remy did with her untamed hair. She then turned around and walked back to the table. She poured herself another glass of bourbon and offered Remy some more bourbon but he declined.

"Are y'happy?" he asked unexpectedly as Marie finished her glass of bourbon.

"What kind of question is that?" she asked slightly amused.

"A simple one. Are y'happy?" he repeated.

Marie sighed, "No not really, but Ah think most people are unhappy."

"Do y'really want t'go back t'de way y'left t'ings?"

"No, Ah really don't," she replied. She was becoming unsure and nervous as to why Remy suddenly felt the urge to interrogate her. It made her even more nervous as to where this would lead.

"Do y'want to change t'ings in yo'life?" he asked and once again closed the gap between him and Marie.

"More than anything," Marie meekly answered.

"Y'can change yo'life at any moment,"

"Ah guess Ah don't know where tah start."

"Den why not start wit me?" he asked, his usually deep, confident husky voice was now an honest, insecure whisper filled with emotion. He didn't really know why he had said that; it was more like he said it before he could think about it.

The emotions flooded through Marie's head. Never before has anyone reached out to her like this. She had waited all her life for this; for someone who noticed her. For someone who cares. Hell, even if he wasn't going to be there tomorrow or the next day, he was there now. And that's all she needed.

Marie swallowed, "Ah dunno, Ah can't describe the pain.....every morning Ah wake up tah this nightmare; and every night Ah go tah bed with it," Marie then looked at Remy with tears brimming her eyes, "And in between, nothing changes."

"What happened, Marie?" Remy asked. He knew she was on the verge of sharing it. He could see her inner conflict in her eyes; all she needed was a little push.

"What are doing?" she asked suspiciously and looked at him.

"I just want t'know--"

"What?" she screamed as she raised her hands out to the side in anger. "What do yah want tah know? No, why would yah want to know?" Her sudden rush of emotions, confused Marie and she vented this out with anger. She looked at Remy who just stared at her. "Is this what yah want to see? Is this what yah want to know?" She then ran over to the side dresser and opened it. She grabbed three prescription bottles and held them up so Remy could see.

"Is this what yah want tah see? That Ah depend on these tah help meh with this nightmare! That mah life is shit without them!" she snapped as she through the bottles against the wall. "Get the hell out of here! Ah'm tired of being the freak show!" she yelled at Remy.

She wanted to scare him off by yelling at him and he knew this. He commonly acted this way when he was too scared to ask for help.

But he ignored any sense that was screaming at him to leave. He walked over to Marie. She had her hand over her eyes. "Please, go Remy," she pleaded, "Why are yah here when Ah'm such a mess?"

Remy lifted her chin with his hand, "Oui an' what did I say 'fore, I like messes."

Despite Marie's best efforts, her tears escaped as they left wet trails down her cheeks. She bit her lip as she tried to blink back her tears. But it was too late. She succumbed to the emotions and collapsed to her knees. Her quiet sobs were now laced with pain. An overwhelming feeling of guilt rushed over her. She held her hands over her face. "Ah left him alone.....he died while Ah ran....Ah shouldn't have left him.....," she choked out in between her cries.

She didn't need to explain what she was crying about; he already knew and it made him feel terribly guilty.

Remy stood motionless as he saw the strong woman crumble into a weeping child in front of him. If he had known she would have reacted like this he wouldn't have pushed her the way he did. He was lost for words. For the first time he did not have a quick response, or sugar coated words that would make all your troubles melt away. And that made him feel awkward. Awkward because he wanted to help and soothe her, but he didn't know how.

He wasn't use to this situation of comforting people. He was the one to cause girls to cry, he never was the one who comforted them. But when he did comfort them, it was always in a physical aspect; having sex always was the best option for him or the girl he was with to forget about everything. But he didn't want to treat Marie like the way he treated the other girls.

Remy knelt down on his knees next to Marie. He lifted his arms up as if he was going to hug Marie but quickly let them drop to his side. He wasn't sure if Marie would want him to hug her. He looked at her. She was still sobbing uncontrollably.

"Ah'm so sorry......Ah'm so sorry Daddy," she wept.

Remy couldn't stand it any longer. His heart wrenched when she cried out an apology to her father. He couldn't watch anymore without interfering; it was a continuing fault of his when she was around. He wrapped one arm around her while his other hand cradled her head. In response, Marie wrapped both arms around him and clung tightly to him as she continued to cry into his shirt.

Remy ran his fingers nimbly through her hair. He did not offer her words of comfort; he was afraid that if he said anything it would stop Marie from releasing all her feelings that she has kept bottled up. He would talk to her tomorrow. But for now, he let her release everything as he held her tightly, so she would now that he was there for her.

Soon her cries quieted down and only a few whimpers could be heard. Remy looked down at her and noticed her eyes were closed. She wasn't asleep but she was exhausted.

Remy knew she was pretending to sleep. Her breathing was too staggered and uncontrolled; it didn't follow the deep, rhythmic breathing pattern that sleep caused. Remy smiled in her hair. He knew what she was doing. She wanted to avoid the awkwardness and realization of what just happened. And he let her play the part she wanted.

For now at least, tomorrow would be another story.

He wrapped on arm around the back of her knees and the other around her back. He stood up and carried her the short distance over to the bed. With great skill he kicked back the covers with his foot. He laid her gently on the bed and pulled the covers over her. He wiped the dried tear marks gently away with his hand. He then kissed her head and whispered, "Y're very brave, ma chere."

He stood up and began to walk away when he was caught by surprise by the sound of Marie's voice. "Don't go, Remy."

Remy turned around and looked at her. Her eyes were puffy, her hair was wild, her porcelain skin was reddened and blotchy from the many tears she cried. But she looked breath taking. Remy smiled, "Would never, ma chere. I was just gonna get a chair and bring it back 'ere." He was about to turn around and proceed in what he was doing but was stopped once again by Marie.

"Please stay with me," her voice half shook from exhaustion and half from fear of being rejected by him.

Remy smiled, he effortlessly kicked off his shoes and climbed into the bed next to her. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her towards him.

"Always," Remy whispered into her hair. And in return Marie draped her arms around him as she nestled her head into his chest. The two enjoyed the momentary feeling of bliss before they succumbed into slumber.

Well, how do you like your fluff? Straight up with a side order of drama? Well then I hope I delivered! Sorry it was such a late update, it ruined my short lived streak. But I really was going to update last week, but two Saturdays ago my friends came and surprised me with a road trip to the shore on my birthday and thats where I've been all week which prevented me from updating this story, but what a lovely distraction --Alright now i'm just rambling--

Anyway, I hope you guys like this fluff filled chapter--I tried not to get too fluffy with it but sometimes I get carried away so I tried to balance it with some drama. But I hope no one get sick from being overwhelmed with the fluff, lol--Sorry if there are some errors, I really didn't get a chance to proofread so bear with me--

The next chapter should be up by next week, but here's a helpful hint the more reviews you guys make the faster I write, oh sadly I don't think I will ever tire from saying that, haha. Let's see if we can reach the 200 mark, basically I'm just saying I need plenty of reviews to fill my addiction, lol. So please keep them coming!

Well I just have to praise you for your reviews because they really do make me smile! I love reading them! 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.