Hey Guys and gals. Sorry but this one seems to be more late than usual. For some weird reason I couldn't log in to fanfiction and couldn't post the story on time. Anyway… I won't babble any more. Enjoy.

Tayrion

Family matters

Remy entered the office of Xavier in a hurry, sensing the urgency in the Professor's voice. "Professor tell me what's going on?"

"I sent Logan to N. Orleans to track down the stranger who attacked you in that bar. He hasn't contacted me all day and now that I tried to sense his psyche, I got nothing. I probably have to use Cerebro to be absolutely sure, but even so I should have picked up something."

Remy didn't feel comfortable with the idea of Logan snooping around in N. Orleans. "What do you tink could have happened Professor?"

"That's what we must find out Remy. I'll send my X-Men there to investigate and I want you to go with them, since you know Orleans better than anyone in the team."

Remy stiffened when he heard that. "I… I'm not sure dat be a good idea Professor. De authorities dere are after me and dey be looking for any excuse to bring me down. I would hate to bring trouble to de rest of de team should dey find dem wit me."

"I understand that Remy. All the more reason to be careful and resolve the situation quickly. Look the truth is that I fear this mysterious assailant. If he is responsible for Logan's apparent disappearance then we'll need all the manpower we can muster. If you still don't want to go. I'll respect that."

At that point a realization dawned at Remy. "Wait a minute… You're not planning on also sending Rogue dere are you?"

Xavier looked curiously at Remy. "Of course. She is part of the team."

Remy could not believe what he was hearing. "What! Are you crazy? Professor it be very dangerous for her!"

"It's dangerous for anyone involved Remy." Answered Xavier calmly.

"Yes… but… I mean her powers are quite passive in nature. She runs a great risk against an opponent such as dis!" Remy could not disguise his frustration.

"Look Remy, I understand that you're worried about Rogue, but believe me she can handle more than what you give her credit for."

"I know Rogue is…" before Remy had a chance to finish what he was about to say, the door opened and in came Rogue, Kurt and Scott.

"I'm what Remy?" Asked Rogue as she entered the office slightly annoyed that Remy was talking about her with Xavier without her knowing anything about it.

"No matter that Rogue, we have important business to attend to now." Said Xavier with an authoritative tone. "Where are the others Scott?"

"They're on their way here Professor."

At that moment in walked Bobby, Ororo and Hank.

"What's wrong Charles? I sensed a great urgency in your mental message." Said Ororo as she entered.

"Now that you're all here, Logan is missing." Everyone was shocked when they heard that. They all considered Logan as someone who could take care of himself better than anyone else, and for him to be missing something was very wrong. Rogue was more upset than anyone in there. Despite the fact that recently Logan was somewhat getting on her nerves, she still loved him and felt closer to him than anyone else in the team. With the exception of the recently arrived Remy. Remy sensed the distress from everyone in the room upon hearing the news, but he felt it stronger from Rogue. He realized it was stupid, but it annoyed him slightly that she had such strong feelings for someone other than him.

The Professor explained the reason he sent Logan down there and the fact that he cannot sense him now.

Scott stiffened when he heard the news. "Why didn't you tell me Professor? I should have gone with him."

"Because Scott, I knew that if I told you you'd want to go there and I needed someone to be in charge here while I was in Boston. Be that as it may, now we got to take full action. If this mutant is responsible for Logan's disappearance it means 3 things. First of all it proves that he is a very dangerous individual and we should be very careful on how we deal with him. Second he is still in N. Orleans and third and most importantly he is apparently interested in us for some reason. So your mission will be multifaceted. You need first and foremost to find Logan, find out why this mutant is interested in us and if you can, resolve the situation once and for all. I've asked Remy to come with you, as he knows N. Orleans better than any of you. Whether he'll come he hasn't decided yet."

Remy looking very decisive spoke up. "I will go Professor."

"But Professor… he still hasn't been integrated to the team. He hasn't worked with us not even in the danger-room. He might endanger the mission." Said Scott.

"Well… there's a first for everything Scott. Let this be his. Hank you'll stay here and help me with the other students. The rest of you I suggest you leave immediately. Scott and Ororo you'll be in charge. But listen to any suggestions Remy has to offer. I will fill in the rest of the details telepathically."

Within a few minutes the 5 X-Men were already suited up and onboard the blackbird. Ororo and Scott were sitting in the pilots' seats while the rest were sitting behind them. Remy boarded the jet last. "Sorry for being late everyone but some parts feel quite squashed in dis tight… tight leather suit." Remy was wearing the black suit that X-Men wore, with the big X on the chest, but he still wore his black coat on top of that.

Kurt raised an eyebrow seeing Remy's appearance. "You seem qvite attached to zis coat of yours Remy. Von't it hinder you if ve are forced to fight?"

Remy smiled. "Well Kurt first of all I'm quite used to fighting in it, and second it's hard to fit dese decks of cards in a suit dat don't already fit many other more important tings." He winked at Kurt and then turned to where Rogue was sitting. He then saw that Bobby was sitting next to Rogue. He smiled and walked to them confidently.

"Sorry, Bobby is it?" asked Remy in a slow voice.

"That's right. And you're Remy right? The new guy." Said Bobby.

Meanwhile Rogue, even though she realized that Remy was there, ignored him purposefully and avoided turning her head to him.

Remy hearing Bobby call him the new guy, couldn't help but chuckle lightly.

"Heh… You can say dat Robert. But now listen… I want you to go and sit wit Kurt. Poor guy is in a very bad mood and he probably needs someone to talk to. I'd go but we're not talking."

Bobby looked at Remy slightly annoyed. "Ha, Ha. Very funny. I saw Kurt before and he was just fine."

Remy feigned disappointment and surprise. "You did? Ah… Merde! I guess you got me! Seriously dough, I want to talk to Rogue so get going… please." He smiled innocently at Bobby.

Rogue then turned to Remy annoyed. "No Remy. Bobby was sitting here. Go sit somewhere else."

"Cherie please. I need to speak wit you. Pretty please…"

Rogue sighed and turned to Bobby. "Bobby could you please go sit with Kurt?"

Bobby vacated his seat and went over to sit with Kurt, as Remy filled his empty seat.

"So isn't dis nice? Going on a trip on a plane together?" Said Remy smiling to Rogue.

Rogue turned to him annoyed. "Look Remy… I know it probably means nothing to you, but Logan missing means a hell of a lot to me! If you can't be serious about it, don't talk at all!" Tears started flowing from Rogue's eyes.

Remy cursed his stupidity. He should have known better than to joke around in a moment like this. He just wanted her to feel better.

"I'm sorry cherie. I really am. But you're wrong on one ting. Anything dat is important to you, effectively becomes important for me. I mean dat."

Rogue turned to him and smiled lightly. "Look Remy… I'm sorry I reacted the way I did, it's just that I'm worried about Logan."

"Hush cherie. You don' need be apologizing. And don't worry. We'll find Logan. I promise you!"

Rogue smiled warmly to Remy now. "As… As for us Remy, again I want to apologize, as I led you on to believe that there could be something more between us. I should have used my brain more but I let myself get carried away with you. You are not to blame though for any of this. I think tat we must agree now to remain good friends and nothing more. Well… that is if you want to remain friends with me of course."

Remy didn't like that one bit. He felt like he should pressure her more and make her understand that he was utterly in love with her, but he decided for discretion. At least for now. "But cherie… you have to know dat you mean so much more to me. I will agree to what you say if you tell me dat it's what you really want."

Rogue now seemed frustrated with herself. "But don't you see Remy… I don't have a choice on the matter. It would be unfair of me to ask you to be with someone you can't touch. I don't need to drag you into my misery."

Remy took hold of Rogue's hand and spoke as truthfully as he could. "First of all cherie, it's my choice. You're not making me do anyting. I want it. I'd rather have you by my side even if I can't touch you, dan be wit anyone else. I mean it wit all my heart." Rogue looked at Remy really moved by his words. She wanted to believe him. Her heart wanted to follow, but reason told her that it would be impossible for someone to love with out touch. Remy though continued. "And secondly chere, despite of what you want to believe you can learn to control dis ting, I know it."

Rogue immediately let go of Remy's hand and turned her head away, looking very tired of having the same conversation over and over. Remy pushed on though. "No, cherie listen to me. I've even talked to de Professor and he agrees wit me. Cherie you've got to at least admit dat dere's a good chance dat we might be right."

"Alright I admit it!" Said Rogue turning to him a bit agitated. "You may be right. But you know what else this shows me? That when you say that you wouldn't mind not touching me, you're only saying that because deep down you want to believe that I can control it. What happens then Remy if you're wrong? Would you be willing to stay so eagerly then? No I made up my mind Remy. I'm sorry if you feel that I'm being unfair to you, but I'm doing this for your own benefit as well."

"But cherie…" Before Remy had a chance to finish what he was about to say, Ororo, who had got up from her seat and approached them, interrupted him.

"Sorry to interrupt. Remy is it?"

"Oui."

"Hello Remy. I'm Ororo. We haven't been properly introduced. Rogue dear, might I steal him away for a little while?"

"Sure we were finished here anyway."

Remy hesitated. He didn't want to give up, but on the other hand he didn't want to pressure her either. Half-heartedly he got up and followed Ororo to the back of the aircraft.

"Be careful back there! Hold on to something if you're gonna stand up, as the ride might not be as smooth throughout." Shouted Scott from the pilot's seat.

"So Remy, how do you like it with the X-Men so far?" asked Ororo.

"It's been really interesting, but I got to tell you Ororo, if you got me up just to exchange pleasantries, I'm really sorry but I was in de middle of something really important."

"That's exactly why I got you up! First of all, everyone in here are trying to pretend that they're not listening to what you're saying, but it's really hard when you start to shout! Second Scott told me some things about what's going on between you two, as did the Professor. I also 'accidentally' overheard some of what you said here."

"Dat's Great! You people are complete strangers wit de notion of staying out of other people's business. Rogue is not a child dat needs constant protection from big bad Remy!" said Remy clearly frustrated.

"Let me ask you something Remy." Said Ororo with the calmness that was typical of her behavior. "The Professor told me of the troubles you have in N. Orleans, and the fact that you were at first hesitant to go there. So why did you decide to come, and be honest."

Remy remained silent and looked over to Rogue. "So what's your point?" asked Remy.

"My point is that we're all trying to protect the people we care about. And I do believe that you care about Rogue. No one is trying to protect her from you! But Remy… you have to understand how difficult this must be for her. If you pressure her more, the only thing you'll achieve is to force her to retreat within herself even more. You'll isolate her from the people around her and from you."

Remy remained thoughtful. He had to admit that Ororo's words made sense. But he still found it annoying that the whole mansion was talking about him and Rogue and how everyone felt it was their right to get involved in this affair. Dat's families for you! Thought Remy.

"You're probably right Ororo. But it goes against my nature to give up on something I want with all my heart."

Ororo smiled kindly at Remy. "I said nothing about giving up Remy. Just… try to take things slower. No one's rushing you." Ororo winked at Remy and returned to her pilot's seat.

Remy looked at Rogue, now very depressed.

It's not dat I don't want to take it slow Ororo. I just can't help it. I want her to know exactly how I feel and…. Time is just running out.    

To be continued…

Star-of-chaos – Obviously Remy agrees with you, but sometimes things aren't as cut and dry as they seem. You've got to know when to push forward and when to pull back. There was a lot of that in this chapter too. :-)

Leann- I can vouch for Wade any day of the week (probably because he would be holding a gun to my face, but hey… nobody is perfect. :-) ). Maybe I'll give him a bit more 'screen- time'. Glad you liked the previous chapter. I don't know I just got the feeling that it wasn't THAT well received as the previous chapters, but maybe that's just me. As for Logan, sorry but you'll have to wait a bit more to see what happened to him.  

Streetwise Girl- Glad you found it interesting. Me like chocolate chip cookies! Yum! Don't know nothing about no muse, but chocolate cookies, that I know a lot about!!!!!!!! Gimme!! Gimme!!

Ishandahalf- Well it wouldn't be very true to the characters of the comics if they didn't do something to screw things up now would it!!! :-) No really, I hate what they did to them in the comics, and believe me that is NOT what I'm doing. I'm just trying to make the story flow more smoothly (narrative-wise). You'll understand why in the end! :-)

Chronicles Bailey:

1. Thanks for the compliments. The name I use 'Tayrion' is indeed a nickname. It's the name of one of my characters from another story I'm writing (more of a book than a story…). When I wrote about my name in the first chapter I thought I would use my actual name (Alexandros Tsagalidis Quite a saxon-sounding name eh? :-) I'm Greek btw…) but then thought of more fun to use a nic.

2. Thanks again. Although I wouldn't call it rare… :-)

3. As you can see, I kept the accents, since I partly agree with you. The problem is I don't know If I can write them that good!

4. Good as in… ?

5. I have to say that I never read anyone really get into the whole empathy thing, so I tried my best. Although, as another reviewer shrewdly observed, I admit I did write it a bit mixed with telepathy, but that was done only for a dramatic effect. I'm glad you liked it!

7. 2 in the morning! That's an interesting time to be reading fanfics… :-)

8. ????????? Where is that? Is it by the pond in the mansion's gardens? Or is it as you go in through the gate on your left hand near that bush?

9. What is intriguing? Oh… You're referring to Wade's choice of clothes… Well… red suits him better than orange.

10. What ain't good? I hope you were not referring to the chapter… :-)