Dismal Angel 2010 - Episode 22

Chapter 3: Like the Plague

"You're sure you've thought about this…" Remy said when he and Kitty were in the X-Men's black van on the way home forty minutes later, Remy was driving, he was uneasy with what Kitty had said back before she'd left the waiting room to see the doctor about her pregnancy.

Kitty was sitting back comfortably, "a hell of a lot since the day I found out," she said, "I know it sounds REALLY crazy but…I don't believe in abortion…and…besides… this might be fate, maybe I was MEANT to have a baby…I don't know, you can't just…get rid of a mistake," she sighed, "you have to deal with your mistakes, otherwise, you could be doomed to repeat it, right?"

Remy shrugged, "I guess…" he lit up a cigarette whilst he was driving.

"Oh, and you have to not smoke around me from now on," Kitty took the cigarette from his mouth and tossed it out the window.

"Terrific," Remy made a face, "My one vice."

"Grow up," Kitty smirked a little at him, she toyed absently with the button on the glove compartment.

"Okay…so…" Remy took the van around a roundabout road and headed towards Graymalkin Lane. "When are you going to tell Piotr?"

"I don't know…I really need to find out how he'd feel about it before I tell him, and that's more or less impossible," Kitty sighed, she looked out of the window, "I really DON'T want to lose him, Remy…but sometimes I think…it'd be so much easier," she admitted. "Philosophers have said that sometimes love is knowing when to let go."

Remy pushed the electronic button on the dash that opened the Xavier Estate gates towards the long driveway up to the house. "Letting go is something you do when there IS no other option. Letting go before you know the score is a cowards move."

"Look who's talking," Kitty shot him a look. Had he really just said that?

"Exactly," Remy said, he pulled the van up the drive and towards the garage. He hit another button on the dash and one of the large garage doors lifted. "Do what you can to NOT make the mistakes I've made," he said firlmly "You're stronger than me, you're so emotionally stable and brave when it comes to feelin's…look at me…look at what I lost in the past…" he looks at her, "if I had half of your courage, I'd have never left Rogue those years ago," he said, "thing is instead of using that courage to fight to keep me and Rogue together, you gotta fight to keep yourself and Piotr together, see?" he asked softly as he parked the van.

"Okay…I see," Kitty nodded.

"Longer you leave it to tell him about Baby Pryde, the harder it's going to be to tell him, and the longer you leave it the more it'll hurt him in the long run," Remy opened the car door. "Believe me, Kitty, if there's one thing I know, its that keepin' secrets from the ones you love – even the secrets that you think are protecting them - are the things that can destroy them…and then the guilt can destroy you…"

Kitty looked right at him. He was right of course, and who had more experience in the field of lies and withholding secrets than Remy LeBeau himself? "Okay…" she said getting out of the van. "Remy…"

"Hmm?" he asked as he got out.

"Thanks…for coming with me…" she said softly, "I know…it couldn't have been…easy," she added, "especially since, its not your baby…and…you had to sit in that waiting room…where you sat…before…" she looked away.

"It's fine," Remy said, "Just promise me one thing."

"Hmm?"

"Promise me…that when the time comes, you won't make me go to lamaze class with you…"

Kitty giggled, "I can't make promises I can't keep."

Remy pouted, "I was afraid of that…"

It was later on when Remy had been heading up to his bedroom to get changed for his training at midday that he found Betsy Braddock in the hallway, donning her uniform and a slight knowing smile. She'd obviously just come out of the Danger Room, she had an almost fatigued expression although it was clearly she'd barely broken a sweat in there.

"Avoiding me, again, LeBeau?"

"Like the plague, Braddock," Remy uttered, he opened his bedroom door and stepped in, he heard her catch the door before it closed, she'd followed him in.

"I'd wondered, if perhaps you'd considered my proposition anymore?" she said, she sat on his bed in a ladylike manner, one leg crossed over the other, hands on her lap, she glanced up at him serenely, not a care in the world.

"Is the pope gay?" Remy retorted coldly.

"Probably not," Betsy responded casually.

"Then there's your answer," he uttered, he walked over to the closet and pulled his uniform out, "do you mind getting out of my room, I want to change."

"I've seen you naked before, LeBeau, it's not the kind of thing that would startle me nor impress me," Betsy folded her arms.

"I don't give a shit, get the fuck out," Remy gestured to the door.

"I want your answer," Betsy said, "If you want Rogue back, ALL you have to do is say the word, Remy. Say the word and I'll bring her back. All you have to do is split with her until you help me find Sinister."

"No!" Remy yelled, "I don't need your help," he said, "I'll get Rogue back on my own, without your help you sadistic bitch – now get out."

"My my, you are getting rather edgy," Betsy said coolly.

Remy snapped, "GET THE FUCK OUT!" he grabbed the nearest item, a heavy glass ashtray, and he threw it towards her head.

Betsy ducked out of the way and turned to see it smash against the wall near her back, it shattered, landing in pieces upon the unmade bed. She examined the pieces, "You know, you really should do something about that temper. You've become very volatile, you know," she got up slowly.

Remy sucked in a breath and then spoke through his teeth, "Get out of my room before I throw you out bodily," he uttered. He quite liked the thought of hurting her right now, it would certainly help him vent a few frustrations although he realised it probably wouldn't look too good to the other X-Men if he should do so.

"When you're ready to come crawling and begging for my help, you know where to find me," she said with a wicked smile, and she headed towards the door.

Remy was about to throw an expensive bottle of cologne at her, but she left knowing she seemed to have pushed him to his limit for the time being. He changed quickly into his uniform and headed down to the foyer and into the secret elevator hidden behind the mahogany wallpanels.

"Hold the elevator!" he heard Kitty call at his back.

He turned to look at Kitty, she was uniformed up, her hair pulled back in barrettes, a determined look on her face.

Remy waited until she'd stepped in before he spoke, he hit the button on the wall, the elevator doors closed, "This MAY sound a stupid question," he said, "But where do you think you're going dressed like that?"

"Danger Room. Training at Twelve, same as you," Kitty pointed to her shock resistant kinetic watch – it was the only kind of watch that somehow she couldn't short out accidentally when she used her powers.

"Uhm…hello, newsflash, you're pregnant," he patted his own well toned leather clad stomach. "And it might have slipped your attention – but uhm – the Danger room is called 'Danger Room' for a reason, you know?"

"Nothing EVER happens to me," Kitty said, "You saw my reflexes when you almost accidentally stabbed me early this morning," she reminded. "That dagger phased through me like a hot knife through butter. I'll be fine."

Remy looked at her, "Kitty…if you want to KEEP this kid, you can't go running around the Danger Room like nothing has changed," he stated. "You're thinking for TWO people now, not just one, remember? You can't do this."

"Yes, I can, I have it all under control," Kitty assured, "my reflexes are fine, and if anything comes at me, I just phase, simple enough. Also, as long as I keep attending all the Danger Room sessions, no one will suspect a thing."

"But they SHOULD, because you're…how many weeks pregnant?"

"Seven," Kitty shrugged, "it's not a big deal."

"Not a big deal?" he demanded, "You expect to keep going to them until you're, what, going into Labour?" he demanded. "This is insane. Kitty, y'know, for someone so unbelievably intelligent, you can be so incredibly dense at times…" he said worriedly.

"Look, Remy," Kitty sighed, "I just can't DEAL with everyone knowing about it, right now, okay? These people are people I've known for like ten years, and they have all these high opinions of me, I just don't want to see the disappointed expressions, and hear them whispering behind my back about what an idiot I am. I feel bad enough knowing I think that about myself without needing to have them think it about me…"

Remy looked at her, "Kitty, I can't let you do this…"

"You have no SAY in this," she reminded, and she knew he didn't. He was her friend, but not her husband, nor her boyfriend, nor the father of the child in question.

"I could march out there and tell them all your condition," He said, a little outraged. She wants to have this baby yet she's going to go into the Danger Room and th

"You wouldn't," she folded her arms stubbornly.

"What makes you think I wouldn't?" he demanded.

"Because if anyone can keep a secret," she smacked his arm playfully as the doors of the elevator opened on to the subbasement, "it's you," she said, and left him standing there, totally speechless.

What is going ON with her, is she on some kind of kamikaze or something? He thought concernedly. Intelligent, courageous and prepared Kitty was suddenly reckless, haphazard and completely irrational. Maybe I should talk to the Professor about this? He wondered, then shook his head at himself mentally. No, she trusted me with something. I let her down once, I can't do that again.