Authors Note: oh it took a lot of will power to get a chapter up for you this week, all I feel like doing is watching endless repeats of Black Books and sleeping, but I la la loved all the reviews you sent me, you're all officially ACE.

Xmengirlzrule: ah well, its not nice being put on the spot like that, especially when its something you don't wanna do! And everyone should hate Bella, she's evil. Cheers for reviewing

Chica De Los Ojos Café: you'll have to wait and see, but it'll all become clear soon! Promise. Thanks very much for the review.

Abril4: you'll soon see what's going to happen, I'm trying not to give too much away in my review notes and things. And they're my favourite couple too, don't fret.

Bant: ooh I hadn't actually considered it feeling like two different chapters, I might have to go back and have a look now. Ah, maybe tomorrow, I'm not in the mood for major writing tasks right now! Cheers for the review hon.

Craaaaazy: ooh hello! That's quite a good idea, lets all go and strangle Belle! Things would be so much easier that way, heh heh heh…

GothikStrawberry: pleasure, I liked your little fic. Yeah families have a wonderful way of bringing up inappropriate things at inappropriate moments, y' gotta love them for it really, cheers for reviewing

Sweety8587: well who knows what's to come hmm…glad you liked it, thanks for reviewing!

Lovelylady: would you be annoyed if I told you there weren't many chapters left? Maybe I will write a story with some little Remy's and Rogue's in it one day, I think that would be rather cute! Thanks for the review

Freak87: hehe, yeah I guess it would be a little odd. Don't worry, it did actually take me ages to do, there was no pleasure there! I'm glad you found the family bits funny though, I wanted a bit of comic relief to stop it all form getting to heavy, families are quite perfect for that!

Miss Ginny: I think you missed a sentence out there, I got a bit confused! Either way, you'll find out if Rogue survived right now! Cheers for the review

Ishandahalf: are you sufficiently well informed about the musical of Moz now? Fab fab fab! Should be an experience anyway. I'm dead excited by the start of your new fic by the way, it's like the summer all over again! Yeah. And I'm glad you heart Remy's family (and huckabee's too?), cos I'm rather fond of them myself! Although once again, I'm sorry about Emil, but he's only dead in writing and you can have him all to yourself! He can be your Joey Ramone...

Queen Peacock: glad you liked it, ta for reviewing!

Lady Godiva: ah well ask me no questions, I'll tell you no lies, yada yada yada, hehe.

Dannonspring: haha, cheers, not so sure about that epilogue though

Epona04: bless, don't worry about it hon. I didn't really think too much about the thieves and assassins when I wrote this, cuz technically, Remy isn't a thief, so it might be hard to explain. I'm very glad you enjoyed it though!

Music When The Lights Go Out
Chapter Eighteen (Something about a difference of opinion)

"So, how was your trip down south?" Kitty asked without looking up. She was curled up on the couch in Rogue apartment, balancing a glass of juice in one hand and a magazine in the other. Rogue had only been back a day or so, and she hadn't seen Remy since then…

"It was…interestin'…" Rogue flopped down on the other end. Enticed by the wording, Kitty put down her magazine.

"Interesting good or interesting bad?"

"Bad."

"Ouch."

Now Rogue really did have Kitty's full attention, she would never be one to miss out on gossip…

"Go on then, like, tell me what happened…" She told her friend, in the most comforting voice she could.

"Well it wasn't goin' too badly until our last nahte there, and then over dinner, his family suddenly start bringin' up all this stuff about weddin's, hintin' that me an' Remy should be gettin' married soon…"

"Jeez, I like, totally don't blame you. If my boyfriends parents suddenly started fitting me for a wedding dress, I'd like, freak out too, and I actually want to get married some day!"

"It was all just so awkward!" Rogue ran a hand through her hair in complete exasperation. "And Ah'm not gonna let this turn inta another Joe fiasco…"

Kitty carefully put down her glass, scooted up alongside her friend and gave her a hug. The whole situation with Joe had been terrible, and even now she knew Rogue was still worried he might still turn up some day. She hoped that for everyone's sake that creep never showed up again…

"Rogue, Remy is nothing like Joe and just 'cos you had, like, one bad experience doesn't mean you should let it, like, scar you for life."

"Yeah Ah know, but Ah still don't wanna get married. Ah love Remy Ah really do, but it just seems like too much too soon, ya know? Besides, Ah've never really seen mahself as tha marryin' kind."

"Now why does that like, totally not surprise me?"

o-o-o-o-o-

Across town, a very similar conversation was taking place in the small bar that Remy often seemed to find himself frequenting. He sat quietly in the corner with Piotr. John, their other drinking buddy hadn't made it tonight and for that Remy was thankful, he wanted to be able to have a conversation with someone with an attention span that lasted for more than five seconds…

"Y' ever t'ink much about marriage Petey?" he suddenly asked in all seriousness, staring down into the bottom of his glass. The question took Piotr by surprise, especially considering who was asking it…

"Well I sometimes think I would one day like to get married. Why are you asking?" He raised an eyebrow. Remy was acting very strangely tonight.

"My family jus' started bringin' up de whole marriage t'ing whilst we were stayin', and it kinda got me t'inkin' is all…"

A moment or twos silence passed before the penny finally dropped. "You want to marry Rogue?"

"I t'ink I might…"

Piotr suddenly felt a strong desire to down the rest of his drink. Remy Lebeau, New York City's most notorious lady-killer had finally decided that he wanted to get married. Really, it beggared belief; it was almost like the end of an era. Eventually though, once the initial shock had worn off, Piotr came too and his face broke into a grin.

"Well then my friend, I think you should, and congratulations." He slapped him on the back.

"Gotta convince her it's a good idea first mon ami, in some ways she's more o' a commitment phobe den I am." Now Remy just looked depressed. He was starting to think that perhaps relationships weren't good for the health…

"She loves you, yes?"

Remy nodded, eyes still firmly in his whisky.

"And you love her?"

"More dan y'll ever know."

"Well then, you need to decide whether you want to take the risk and ask her, or just keep doing what your doing now and never go anywhere. For all you know she might feel the same way…"

Remy looked up at him and raised an eyebrow

"Yes," Piotr carried on, "I know what she's like…"

Remy laughed, finishing his drink before starting to put his trench coat on, ready to leave.

"Wouldn't have her any ot'er way dough."

o-o-o-o-o-

A couple of days later, Rogue and Remy met for breakfast in a little café on the upper west side. It was just late enough in the day for most of the rush to have subsided and the Southerners could sit in peace and just talk quietly.

Thanks to Piotr's advice, Remy had decided that now would be a good time to start testing the water and maybe bring up marriage again. Rogue, meanwhile, was trying very very hard to forget that the original marriage conversation had ever happened…

"So," Remy, taking a sip of his coffee and breaking the ice. "I was jus' thinkin' its Henri' and Mercy's weddin' anniversary next month…"

"That's nice, ya gonna send them a card or somethin'?"

"Its good isn't it? Dat some people can make it work like dat, be happy…" he carried right on with his train of thought, almost completely ignoring her comment.

"Yeah…" He was acting really strangely. Rogue decided it was probably best to put it down to stress over the funeral and staying with his family, but still, it was kind of creepy…

"Maybe it just goes t' show dat when people are made fo' each other, dey should jus' take de next step an' make de commitment, like Henri and Mercy did."

Rogue suddenly felt her stomach drop. He couldn't be? Could he? Was he really bringing up weddings after the whole embarrassing conversation with his family? She didn't even want to think about it.

"Remy, are ya alright?"

"Never better chére. I jus' got t' t'inkin' about de future an' t'ings de ot'er day is all. Some of de stuff dats happened recently really makes y' t'ink non?"

"Yeah Ah guess so," she said pensively, still not entirely sure where he was going with this.

He reached over and took her hand in his across the table. Rogue knew what that meant, it meant he was being serious now rather than just playing around. The situation was looking even more worrying.

"I was jus' t'inkin' dat some o' de t'ings my family said, not all o' dem, jus' some, made a lot o' sense…"

"What are ya tryin' ta say Rem?"

"Jus' dat I can't see my life wit'out y' chére, I don't want t' either. I'd be honoured if y' would marry me someday."

Rogue felt her chest go tight. What could she do though? Why did he have to put her in this position?

"Maybe we should talk about this this evening ok?" she pushed his hand away, leaving the Cajun looking heartbroken. Quietly she got out of her seat and slung her bag back onto her shoulder.

"Ah'll see ya later," she lent down and gave him a quick kiss goodbye, but before she could leave, Remy grabbed her hands.

"I love y' Rogue."

"Ah love ya too," she answered, but somehow the words felt hollow and empty.

Now she just felt a little distracted and panicky, unnerved even. Leaving the café she walked quickly down the road, nearly running. She felt like she was trapped, drowning almost, she had to get out, go somewhere she couldn't be found; it was the only thing to do.

Picking up the pace, she ran down the sidewalk. She had to make her escape.


Reviews please! I'm awaiting the hate mail from this one…