Authors Note: yeah sorry this took a little longer than usual to post up, but its here now so hopefully that will make at least one person happy, maybe more if I'm lucky! I hope you've all had good weekends, mines been fab!

Freak87: hehe, I was preparing for you to scream at me I honestly was! Yeah, considering there was 16 chapters worth of build up, I didn't presume there would be anything there that y'all wouldn't have already guessed, but isn't it nice to have it in black and white?

Chica De Los Ojos Café: I'm glad you liked it, and don't worry, that all made perfect sense. Cheers for the review!

Lady Godiva: well someone's gotta keep Belle in check, can you imagine what she'd be like otherwise? I'm shuddering at the thought. Yeah Joe's a bit of a psycho, but it was a while ago and he's also got a restraining order that should keep him nice and quiet!

Psycho88: I've noticed a few people's accounts have been shut down recently, something dodgy's going on…Fine art and regular art are the same, just one sounds a bit more pretentious, but don't worry about it. Thanks for the review,

GothikStrawberry: thank you, I've been wearing my dark glasses all week and steering clear of screens, so I'm feeling a lot better now! Thanks very much for the review.

Xmengirlzrule: ah well, thanks very much for reviewing so early in the morning!

Ishandahalf: ishy, I've got three words for you…MOZ THE MUSICAL! Oh yeah baby. I meant to tell you this last week, though you probably already know, but oh wow! I just really hope it doesn't turn out horribly embarrassing to watch…but frankly, give me a load of Smiths songs and I'm happy either way. I wonder who will play Morrissey himself? But moving on! Thank you for not storming off in a Belle/Joe induced outrage, but don't worry about Joe, restraining order remember! Hehe, I sure took care of him…

Abril4: haha, Remy style! That really shouldn't have made me laugh as much as it did…thanks for reviewing.

Lovelylady: I'm very glad you still like it, sorry I was a bit hard on Emil, I think maybe some kind of support group needs to be set up! Thanks very much for reviewing.

Untouchablegoth: cheers for the lovely comments, I'm glad you seem to be liking it so far! Thanks very much for reviewing.

NaijaStrawberrie: they're the same person. Lapin is Emil's nickname. I don't think its ever been brought up in evolution, but it has in the comics. I can see why confusion might arise... Ta for reviewing.

Bant: gotta love that enthusiasm, ace. Well here's a bit more for you, I hope you enjoy it and thanks for the review!

Dannonspring: ah thank you very much for the lovely review, it seems like you're well on you're way to writing your own story there! I hope you enjoy the rest.


Music When The Lights Go Out
Chapter Seventeen (Something about confrontation)

The weather on the day of the funeral was miserable, it seemed to match everybody's mood. Above them, the sky was the colour of slate and a light drizzle covered everything, the kind of rain that seems to go on forever.

Family and friends, dressed in black, stood in the churchyard, holding umbrellas to protect them from the shower. It was a very sombre affair, all was quiet save for the priest and the gentle sounds of crying from the mourners. Remy, along with his brother and some of his cousins, had been responsible for carrying the coffin and now the plain wooden casket that bore Emil's name, date of birth and death, dates that were far too close together, stood surrounded by flowers with water collecting delicately on their petals, there for everyone to see.

Rogue gripped Remy's hand. His face was stony, jaw set, giving away nothing. His eyes were the only things that betrayed him. Together they watched as the casket was lowered gently into the ground and earth placed on top. Lapin had found his final resting place.

People started to leave, the weather putting them off staying longer, but Remy stayed where he was, just staring at the grave, Rogue still with him. Eventually, even the other LeBeau's began to start walking back towards their cars…

When the crowd of mourners opposite them had thinned, Rogue noticed that one still remained, and she seemed far more interested in Remy than anything else. She was certainly striking, with her neat blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, all dressed up in a smart black suit and stiletto heels, but there was something oddly disturbing about her being there. Eventually, Remy dragged his eyes upwards, only to nearly have a heart attack at what he saw.

"Belle?"

"Oui cher, y' didn' t'ink I wasn't gonna let dis visit pass me by did y'? 'Specially when I heard y' had a river rat in tow…" She sneered.

Remy's eyes flashed dangerously. "What d'ya want?" he was holding Rogue's hand so tightly now it was beginning to hurt.

"What makes y' t'ink I want somet'in'? I can come t' de funeral of an ami can't I?"

Rogue looked between the two. Remy looked as if he was about to do something he would probably later regret and Belle was obviously enjoying winding him up immensely.

"Look," she interjected, trying to keep peace. "Maybe ya should jus' leave, today ain't been easy and now ain't tha time nor tha place."

"And y' are?" Belle asked her witheringly.

"Tha river rat." Rogue retorted. Bella just scoffed and then talked right through her.

"Y've really lowered y' standards Remy, have t' say I'm surprised…"

Belle had really crossed a line this time and as Remy clenched his fists in anger, Rogue slid her arm through his and started to forcibly lead him away from the graveyard.

"C'mon sugah, she ain't worth it, just let it go…"

They started to make their way back towards the car they had borrowed for the day, walking quickly to make the distance seem shorter, anything to get away from that woman faster. Remy threw a look back over his shoulder as they left. She was still there, her icy blue eyes fixed, watching them…

He hadn't seen her in years and frankly, he had had no desire to. She had picked the most inappropriate day to show up and start being all confrontational, that was just Belle all over, she never could stand not being the centre of attention, it wasn't in her nature to ever be ignored.

In truth, he still wasn't exactly certain why she had come today; her and Emil had been friends he supposed, but not really the closest. He certainly didn't know what she had wanted from him…he guessed it was just to see Rogue, after all, Rogue was her only other kind of competition. Either way, he hoped he never saw her again, that chapter in his life was most definitely closed.

-o-o-o-o-o-

That evening, the whole LeBeau family, plus guests, all had dinner together at home. It was a goodbye meal in more ways than one, mainly for Emil and also partly for a few people who were leaving for home the next day, including Remy and Rogue who were flying back to New York.

"I'm so glad Remy's finally decided t' settle down…" Tante Mattie started, making Remy embarrassed. It wasn't the first time she had started this thread of conversation, but now it was in front of everyone.

"I was so worried about him after Belle, always chasin' skirts, a new fille every day…" She stopped briefly to take a sip of her drink, before she just carried right on through. Seeing Remy start to turn pink made Rogue laugh, she gave him a sly nudge in the chest, trying to be discreet about it at the same time.

"But now he's found himself a nice girl, so I can stop frettin'. Henri found a nice girl, and now so has Remy, y' both makin' y' Tante so happy! I suppose we'll all be hearin' weddin' bells soon, non?"

Rogue suddenly choked on her wine.

"Y' alright dere chére?" Remy looked a little alarmed as he reached over and patted her on the back.

"Yeah, Ah'm just fine." Rogue spluttered out. Wedding bells! Who had ever said anything about getting married!

"Oui, should I buy a hat?" Mercy piped up, turning the conversation back to what now seemed to be Rogue and Remy's impending nuptials…

"I think mebbe it's a lil early fo' dat," Remy told her, still rubbing broad circles on his girlfriends back. There was visible disappointment all around the table.

"Well dere ain't no time like de present," Jean-Luc offered, "And I'd love t' have y' in de family Rogue."

Rogue smiled weakly. It felt like she was being suffocated. She didn't want to offend Remy or his family, but she didn't have any plans to marry anyone. It just wasn't something she could ever see herself doing. It all just reminded her of the last big relationship commitment she had nearly made, and how very badly that had all gone. She wasn't prepared to set herself up for it again.

"Mebbe we talk about something else for a bit hmm?" Remy asked sternly, quickly downing the contents of his wine glass. He should have known letting his family loose on his girlfriend would be a bad move.

"Fine, I'm just sayin' is all…might be nice t' have some grandchildren some day t'…" Now it was Henri and Mercy's turn to start looking nervous and shift uncomfortably in their seats…

Rogue was amazed that, over the course of one meal, it seemed like her entire future had pretty much been planned for her. She very much hoped they would both forget this entire evening by the flight home tomorrow.

"I'm sorry." A smoky voice whispered in her ear, breath tickling her neck. Never had she longed to be back in New York quite so much.


The second half of this chapter was so much fun to write! The first half, not so much….

But anyway, please Review! don't be shy…