V
"Okay ladies, now when I tell you too, your going to focus on your partner, and pant, pant, pant just like we've done before."
The birthing instructor was named Cyndi (affectionate called Psycho Cyndi for her army like tactics and the fact her level of enthusiasm bordered on raving lunatic) and she sported a waist line that could have been spanned with Logan's hands easily. Her long blonde hair was piled up on her head in a pony tail that swung back and forth every time she talked enthusiastically, which meant it was in constant movement. She was a mother of four, an aerobics and yoga instructor by day, and very sweet.
Rogue hated her instantly.
With a sigh, she leaned back against her pillow and struggled to let her breathing flow into the pattern that Cyndi was toting. This was only her fourth birthing class and already she was considering becoming a birthing school drop out. She couldn't get the breathing right, her back ached from the position she was in, and she was more then a little annoyed with the whole process. Plus the instructor liked like a supermodel while Rogue was bemoaning the lost of her waist and feeling like she'd crawled out of a turnip patch.
Painkillers (and lots of them), were looking better and better.
Of course, it didn't help that her current birthing partner was short, and hairy, and wore a scowl that would have melted steel. Logan probably would have looked and felt more comfortable in a room full of The Brotherhood, then he did surrounded by the seven other pregnant ladies in the room, and their partners.
Oh well, at least he'd put out the cigar before they came into the building for class.
"You okay, Logan?" She asked between pants. " You're looking a little nervous Sugah."
"Very funny." Logan said as he held up the stuffed rabbit she was using as a focus object and squeezed it playfully. " You realize you owe me for this right?"
" Of course." Rogue said innocently. " I wouldn't have asked, except Jubilee's not back yet and she's my normal partner. You wouldn't want me to come alone would you?"
" No." Logan admitted grudgingly with a snort as he helped her sit up. "But this really isn't my thing Rogue, now if this had something to do with kicking someone's ass…" He shrugged. " No offense, but I think I'd take a good bar brawl over this any day."
" Or a danger room stim." Rogue agreed wholeheartedly.
" Yeah," Logan agreed with a sigh. "Something good and bloody with a lot of hand to hand combat. Not one of Scooter's drill's ether, something with all the safety controls off…"
"Uh, Logan…" Rogue said, causing him to look over his shoulder.
The young couple next to them had clearly over heard Logan's comments and was staring at them openly, jaws hanging down, breathing long forgotten.
With a snort Logan rose up on his knees and crossed his arms across his chest. "What the hell are you staring at?" He growled.
The pair didn't say a word as Logan glowered at them, just let put a startled yelp and went back to focusing on each other as quickly as possible.
Rogue giggled, she couldn't help it and then tried to smother it back unsuccessfully . " Logan." She admonished gently with a laugh. "Play nice, Jubilee and Ah have to come back next week."
"Sorry." He said.
" No, your not."
" No, I'm not." He agreed as he pushed her hair gently off her forehead for her. " How you holding up?"
" Fine." Rogue said. " Ah should ask you the same question."
" I've been better." He admitted, then spoke under his breath. " You really believe this breathing shit is gonna work?" He could tell her different, Jubilee had tried the same techniques and Logan was sure( despite his healing factor), he had scars from where she'd dug her nails into him.
"No." Rogue admitted. " Honestly, Ah probably wouldn't even have come tonight except…"
"What?"
"Well Ah really just wanted to see you squirm."
"What?"
Rogue laughed. "Jubilee said you might react like that."
"You mean we didn't have to do this?" Logan said in a pitiful, yet oddly dangerous, tone.
"Nope." Rogue said with a truly evil grin.
"Your devious, you know that?" Logan asked.
"Ah know." Rogue said "But if it helps, class is almost over."
"It helps." Logan agreed, noting the movement around them. "What's going on?"
"Ah don't know." Rogue said as she struggled to sit up. "What's Cyndi the psycho instructor doing?"
"Okay guys." Cyndi called. "Breathing is looking great, so let's move onto the mats for tonight's special treat."
"Beer?" Logan murmured hopefully.
"Ah somehow doubt it." Rogue said as he helped her up.
"Ruin my fun." He muttered.
"Shhh." Rogue said as Cyndi rolled a TV in. "Be good, and we'll stop for a beer on the way home." She smiled. "Mah treat"
Cyndi motioned for them to quiet down as she spoke. "As you know." She said in an ungodly bright tone. "Marc and Paula had their baby last week." She smiled. 'And I'm happy to report both mother and son are home and doing fine. Anyhow, after giving it some thought they agreed to let us borrow the tape of the delivery to watch in class, instead of the normal tape I show."
"Did she just say what Ah think she said?" Rogue said in disbelief.
"I think so." Logan sad as the color drained out of his face. "Rogue?"
"What Sugah?"
"Forget a quick beer on the way home; you owe me at least a pitcher."
By the time they emerged from class twenty minutes later, Logan was sure he was going to have nightmares for the next year, and Rogue was wondering who she was going to have to kill to get an elective c-section.
"Well." She said as she cleared her throat. "Still feel like goin for that beer?"
"I feel like going home and kissing my wife." He admitted as he opened the truck door for her.
"Ah'm sure." She cocked her head. "I would have thought you'd be old ht at this by now, with being in the delivery room with Genny and all."
"Jubilee had a c-section." Logan reminded her. "We never actually got to…that part."
"Speaking of, when is Jubes coming back?" Rogue asked.
"Sometime tomorrow." Logan said absentmindedly.
"She didn't say when?" Rogue asked with a yawn.
"Nope." Logan said as they rounded the corner. "But it should later in the day, after her dance recital."
"Ahh." Rogue said as they pulled up to the house. "I'm beat." She said with a yawn.
"So am I" Logan said as they headed up the walk.
Suddenly he stopped and sniffed the air, stopping her with an extended arm.
"What?" She asked cautiously.
"Someone's here." Logan said. "I can smell them."
For a moment he stood stock still, then wrapping an arm around her protectively he ushered her towards the house. Quickly he unlocked the door and went in first. He sniffed; someone's scent was pretty heavy in the house as well.
With a determined mind, he scanned the room and then pushed Rogue gently in front of him. "Go lock yourself in the bathroom." He ordered. "Stay there until I come and get you, don't unlock the door yourself, I have a key." He cracked his knuckles. "I'm going to check things out."
Rogue nodded silently and moved as quickly as she could to do as he said.
With a sigh, she perched on the edge of the tub and lowered her head into her hands. What had she gotten herself into, by coming to this town? She was beginning to think it had been a huge mistake to ever leave Westchester. She'd let her pride convince her that she needed to escape, and look where it had gotten her, hiding in her own bathroom from an unknown evil like she was the one doing something horribly wrong.
Suddenly, packing up and heading home didn't seem like such a bad idea.
With a mental curse that would have made Jean proud, she shook her head. This was her life, and her house and she'd be damned if someone was going to run her off it like a chicken. She wasn't going to run home with her tail between her legs, she was going to stay and fight if she had too.
She bit her lip; she knew she had more to consider then herself though. It was her job to protect her baby, and she wasn't doing it to the fullest ability if she stayed in a place where there was danger. With the things Xavier had told her, she wasn't sure it was a good idea to stay where she was, but the mansion could be just as dangerous. They were always being attacked by one enemy or another.
Still…
Ah, hell.
It would be so much easier to chalk it up to hormones, rather then good sense and try to ignore it. The consequences of that ignorance if she was wrong however were huge.
Was she willing to take that risk?
The sound of a key in the lock caused her to look up in surprise as Logan opened the door. "It's okay to come out." He said with a sigh as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"What happened?" She asked in fatigue.
Logan cleared his throat. "Nothing."
"Nothing?" Rogue asked in disbelief.
"Well not really." He said. "It was kids."
"Kids?" She said in disbelief.
"Teenagers actually." He said as he held up a couple of empty liquor bottles in each hand. "Looking for a place to drink their hooch."
"The playhouse." Rogue said with a sigh.
"Yeah." Logan said as he tossed them aside. "And there's more out there, looks like they've been using the place for a while."
"So false alarm this time?" She said.
"Yup." He smiled. "Sorry kid"
"Better safe then sorry." She said with a wave of her hand. "Ah thin Ah'm gonna go to bed."
"Alright." He said. "I'm gonna call Jubilee, see how things are at home."
"Right." Rogue said as she disappeared upstairs.
With a grunt, Logan turned and headed for the phone. He was worried about Rogue, and he had a feeling things were about to go from bad to worse.
He didn't know just how right, he was about to become.
And then, he'd wish with all his heart that he'd been wrong.
It was well past midnight when the nightmare came.
She could feel herself drowning, sinking slowly into the mire until she couldn't breathe, couldn't see, and couldn't even scream. All she could do was fall and know that this time there was nobody to catch her, no life preserver to save her.
She was all alone in the night.
Images haunted her, mocking faces of people she'd absorbed and others she called enemies. Even her friends had turned their backs, afraid of what she had become, what the future held for her. She wasn't a normal human, she never would be, but she wasn't technically a mutant right now ether. Where did that leave her?
And then there was the evil.
It was a malice she couldn't explain, but it wanted to hurt her badly and she didn't know why. It was all around her, every way she turned. She knew nobody would be able to protect her from it if it wanted her, and it did with a deadly passion.
Rogue whimpered in her sleep, curling in on herself to protect the baby as she sought to get away. She tossed back and forth mercilessly, unable to wake herself up as much as she tried and cried out quietly, feeling like she was being smothered.
In her fear, she did something she hadn't done in months. She reached out for him, reached out for the safely she knew lay in Gambit's arms. "Remy." She murmured as she came half away, and rolled towards where he'd have been laying…
Only to find the spot empty and utterly alone.
She started to cry softly, hugging the pillow to her chest like it was her shield. She wanted so badly not to be alone in the night anymore, she wanted him.
And suddenly he was there with her.
She knew it was a dream, likely sent by Xavier or Jean to calm her, to help her sleep but she didn't care. The nightmare immediately began to recede and she could feel him as he lay down with her. "Remy." She murmured sleepily.
"Shhh." He said, caressing her lips with the pad of his thumb. "Remy's here now, go to sleep chere."
He felt so real.
She could feel his arms around her, how strong they were, and smell the spicy smell that was unmistakable his. A blend of sandalwood soap and aftershave that she loved so much. His red eyes burned into her as he crawled under the covers and covered her body with his protectively.
"Ah was so afraid." She whispered.
"Don't be," He said as he kissed her brow. "Go to sleep Mon Coeur, everythin's gonna be ok from now on, Remy promises."
And somehow, she knew that even thought he wasn't really there, (how could he be?) she was closer to him then ever before…and it was enough.
For now.
With a happy sigh, she cuddled into him and succumbed to the most peaceful sleep she'd had in months.
Down the hall Logan was dozing lightly when all of the sudden he sat bolt up right. "What the hell?" He murmured as a very familiar scent wafted from Rogue room down the hall to meet his sensitive nose. "It couldn't be."
He knew that scent and its owner.
But how?
"Logan?"
As if on cue the door to his room opened and Jubilee flew into his arms.
"Jubes!" he said as he kissed her. "When did you get back?"
"About an hour ago, I snuck a snack downstairs before I came up here." She said with a grin. "I haven't even bothered to take off my coat yet. I wanted to surprise you, so I came back early."
"What about the recital" He asked, knowing how much work she'd put into it.
"Dazzler can handle it." Jubilee said softly. "I couldn't stand being away from you any longer."
"The feelin's mutual baby," he said drawing her into his arms and kissing her. "Was Genny okay when you left?"
"Better then," Jubilee assured him. "And she'll be safe there."
Logan smiled and then sniffed the air again, that scent was back gain, stronger then ever. "Jubilee?"
"Hmmm?"
"Did you come back totally alone Darlin?"
"Sure." She said innocently as she drew him down beside her. "Jean and I made sure I wasn't being followed." She cocked her head and gave him what he'd come to know of his their marriage as the look. It normally meant he wasn't going to get sex again for at least a month unless he agreed with what she said. "Right?"
Logan grinned and nodded as they kissed again and he wrapped his arms around her. The scent was bothering him anymore, now that he knew where it was coming from.
He understood what Jubilee was saying perfectly.
"Logan?" Jubilee said softly.
"What baby?"
"Did I mention I'm not wearing anything under this raincoat?"
God, sometimes he loved his wife so much it hurt.
This was definitely one of them.
When Rogue woke in the morning, she was actually surprised to find herself alone. With a sigh, she rolled over and wrapped her arms around the now cold pillow. The dream had felt so real, she'd almost expected to wake up and find Gambit in bed with her again. She'd slept serenely all night, dreaming of his arms around her and now in the morning light more then ever she missed him.
Even her senses were playing on her. She could have sworn when she got up that she could smell his aftershave in her room.
With a sigh she ran a hand over her rounded stomach and smiled as she got a ripple in response. What would Remy say if he saw her now? Sporting a bump the size of a large soccer ball and wearing maternity cloths. She looked different she knew, but would he be able to tell how different she felt. She felt like she'd grown up a bit more the last few months, like her eyes and soul were older. What would he have thought of that?
He probably would have laughed her off and said she was only as old as she thought she was. Rogue shook her head, no, he wouldn't be that crass. He'd have told her she was right, but that age was only a stepping stone in the pond, and he'd have been right too.
She headed for the shower and stripping stepped under the spray, letting the needles of water hit her aching shoulders. How had she slept the night before to wake up so cramped that morning? With a wince she rolled her shoulders, stretching them out as she began to shampoo her hair and sighed in pleasure.
Sometimes a warm shower could cure all ills.
When she entered her room again, she headed for the closet and pulled out a bright colored peasant top and a plain black skirt then pulled her hair into a pony tail.
As if on cue there was a knock on her door.
"Come in." Rogue said as she slipped on her shoes.
"It's me." Jubilee said stepping inside.
"Jubes!" Rogue said giving her a hug. "When did you get back?"
"Early this morning." Jubilee said with a laugh. "I snuck in and surprised Logan."
"Ah'll bet." Rogue said wryly. "Did Ah hear him leave earlier?"
"He went to Jackson for something," Jubilee said. "Took Titan with him."
"So we're on our own today?" Rogue asked.
"Yup, and by the way the Y just called." Jubilee went on. "Your Lamaze class was moved from tonight to this morning."
"Great." Rogue said with a sigh. "Early morning calisthenics with Psycho Cyndi."
"I'll get your bag and meet you in the car." Jubilee said as she turned and left.
"Your gonna go in that?" Rogue asked as she met Jubilee at the SUV.
"Sure, why?" Jubilee said. She was dressed in a smokey purple shirt and a pair of black leather shorts with huge silver buckles. Chunky silver earring aside, she'd spike her short black hair and streaked it with purple to match her shirt. Her knee boots were the same skin tight leather as her short, which was really saying something.
Sometimes it was hard to believe Jubilee was anything more then the spunky teenager Rogue had met several years before when she'd joined the team.
Especially when she still dressed like one.
"No reason." Rogue said, knowing not to mention her friend's eclectic fashion tastes.
It was far too early in the morning for bloodshed.
So that was how Rogue found herself again, in Lamaze class trying to focus on the stuffed bunny Jubilee was, holding half an hour later. Oh well, it could have been worse, it could have been Logan in class with her again.
"Breathe in and out" Jubilee said soothingly "In and out, in and-ah hell you know this crap doesn't work right?" She sat back on her heels with a sigh as she tossed the bunny aside. "Just ask for good painkillers and enjoy the buzz is what I say."
She looked around and caught a young couple starting at them bug eyed in horror. What Jubilee could tell was they were staring at her appearance. What she couldn't tell, however, was this was the same couple Logan had shocked the week before. "What the hell are you looking at?" She said, hands on her leather clad hips.
"No-nothing." The man sputtered as they turned away. " No-nothing at all."
"Weirdo's" Jubilee muttered as she pulled a purple spike out of her eye with a well manicured hand and grabbed the bunny again. "Okay, let's give this another shot, shall we."
"Ahright." Rogue said with a sigh of her own. " Jubilee?"
"What?" Jubilee asked as she helped her sit up.
"Can Ah ask you a question?"
"Sure." Jubilee said. "Anything, what?"
"When you were at the mansion," Rogue said carefully. "Did you…"
"What chica?" Jubilee said. "Come on, out with it."
"Did you see Remy?" Rogue smiled. "At all?"
Jubilee was quiet for a moment, as if she was weighing something and then she spoke, choosing her words carefully. " Yeah."
"How did he look?" Rogue asked. " If you don't mind me asking."
" Like hell." Jubilee said cheerfully. " He really misses you."
"Oh." Rogue said with a half laugh, half sob. "Ah thought he'd have given up lookin by now."
" Nope." Jubilee said. " He's hell bent on finding you." She turned serious for a moment. " He's worried about you, and he knows he made a mistake. I think he wants to make up to you for it."
" It wasn't his fault." Rogue protested. "Ah pushed him too fast."
"I don't think you pushed him half as fast as he pushed himself." Jubilee said gently. "He panicked Rogue, and he knows it."
"Then why did he blast me that night at the staff meeting?" Rogue said. "Why didn't he say something then?"
"He's a guy." Jubilee said. "Their not programmed the same way we are to talk about things." She laughed. "Let me tell you something, when Logan and I were first married he barely spoke two words to me at times, and even then it may have been a grunt or snort. I thought he was mad at me all the time, until I realized that's the way he is. Sometimes he's so brooding he barely speaks for days but he always makes up to me for it."
"How?" Rogue asked.
"Lots of ways." Jubilee said. "Sometimes it's a kiss, sometimes its hug, or the way he wraps his arms around me all the time. He'll send me flowers or just cuddle me when we're watching TV at night alone. He always find's a way to tell me what he's feeling without speaking a word, to reassure me that he's okay, that we're okay."
Rogue smiled tearfully. "Then why didn't Remy?"
"I don't know." Jubilee said honestly. "Maybe he wasn't ready," She squeezed Rogue's hand. "But the point is, he is now."
"Your right." Rogue said as she wiped tears away.
"I usually am." Jubilee said. "When somebody actually listens to me." She grinned. "Come on, let's blow this class and get some food, I'm starving."
" You're starving?" Rogue said with a snort. " Ah'm pregnant and Ah skipped breakfast."
"Naughty girl." Jubilee admonished.
"Shut up and let's go eat girl."
"As you wish." Jubilee said with a laugh as she helped her to her feet.
"Is everything okay here?"
Cyndi's bubbly voice shot straight through Rogue's nerves but she grits her teeth and smiled. "Fine." She lied. " But Ah'm afraid Jubilee and Ah have to be going. Ah have a doctor's appointment."
"Oh." Cyndi said, clearly a might annoyed someone would leave her class early of all things. '"Alright."
"Sorry." Rogue said as they beat hell for the door, aware everyone was staring at them. " Gotta run."
Once outside the building they both collapsed in the car in giggles as Jubilee started her up. " Where do you want to eat?" She asked.
" The local café is good Ah hear." Rogue said. "We could try there."
"Sounds good." Jubilee said. "Where is it?"
"Down a ways, off Jameson St." Rogue said pointing. "There."
Jubilee cruised into the parking lot at a rapid rate, causing Rogue to wince as they jarred to a stop.
"Sorry." Jubilee said with a sigh. "I'm not used to driving the truck yet."
"Tell me about it." Rogue muttered as she slid out, grateful to put her sandal clad feet on solid ground.
She waited for Jubes to lock up and then they headed inside without another word.
Rogue headed for a booth at the back with Jubilee on her heels and gingerly lowered herself down onto the seat with a grimace.
"Getting big." Jubilee murmured with a wicked grin.
"Hush up." Rogue said affectionately. "Ah'm not that big."
"Yes, you are." Jubilee said. "No denying your pregnant now."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Rogue said as the waitress appeared and took their drink orders.
"You're thrilled." Jubilee said. "And don't deny it because I remember what it was like."
"Speaking of." Rogue said as she perused the menu "Have you and Logan ever thought of havin another one?"
"Yeah." Jubilee said. "Someday definitely, but we're waiting until Genny's a bit older." She smiled. "She's enough of a handful as it is."
"Ah'll bet." Rogue said with a grin. "Anymore at the moment and you'd go crazy."
"Crazier." Jubilee corrected. She smiled at the waitress. "I'll have the Spanish omelet with coffee and whole wheat toast."
"Ah think Ah'll have the same." Rogue said handing her the menu.
"You're not supposed to drink coffee." Jubilee admonished.
"Oh well." Rogue said. "One cup won't hurt us."
"True." Jubilee said wickedly. "I never gave up caffeine at all when I was pregnant."
"Oh." Rogue scoffed with a laugh. "You're a great one to talk then aren't you?"
"You really miss him don't you?" Jubilee asked suddenly.
"Wow!" Rogue said as she choked down a mouth full of juice. "Where'd that come from?"
"I don't know." Jubilee said. "I just figured if I blurted it out, you might get caught by surprise and answer me."
"That don't make it any easier." Rogue said growing serious.
"I know." Jubilee said as she squeezed her friend's hand across the table. "But Rogue, Anna, I'm your best friend, if you can't talk to me about everything, who can you talk too?"
Rogue didn't say anything for a moment as she stared at her lap. "Your right." She said finally.
"So talk to me." Jubilee said. "I know you've been bottling a lot of things up all these months, you've hardly spoken about Remy until recently. Tell me the truth, you miss him don't you?"
"Like crazy." Rogue admitted. "Ah miss him so much it hurts."
"Do you still love him?" Jubilee asked.
"Of course." Rogue said. "Mah love for him never stopped, even when we were fightin, even after Ah left."
"Then why stay here?" Jubilee asked. "Why not go back and try to make it right?"
"Pride." Rogue said. "Ah guess Ah'm stubborn, wanted to prove Ah could do this on mah own."
"But you can't." Jubilee said. "Your lonely and this is a time in your life when you need to feel supported not matter what."
"Since when did you get so smart?" Rogue sniffed.
"Oh it's not me, it's Dr. Phil." Jubilee assured her as she forked up some eggs. "I didn't have much to do on my maternity leave, so I watched a lot of daytime TV. You'll do it too; it's a new mom thing."
"Oh." Rogue said with a laugh. "Okay."
"I think you should talk to Gambit." Jubilee said. "I know he's willing to listen. Maybe you two could work things out."
"It's not that easy Jubes." Rogue said, wrapping her arms protectively around her stomach. "Ah is having a baby that's not his. He'd have to live with this child everyday if we're together and know that. Ah'm a package deal now, and it's not fair to him to have to watch me raise another man's child."
"A donor's child." Jubilee corrected. "And it's not like you cheated on him, there's no daddy in the picture."
"In a way it's like Ah cheated on him." Rogue said. "Ah went behind his back and got myself pregnant."
"So what?" Jubilee argued. "He doesn't care anymore Rogue, he just wants you. Both of you."
"He can say that now but it's a different story once he's actually in the situation." Rogue said in an annoyed tone then lowered her voice. "Can we change the subject please?"
"No." Jubilee said. "You're isolating yourself like some kind of prisoner, you won't go home, and you cry all the time when you think nobody can hear or see you. Rogue, I'm worried."
"Don't be." Rogue said in a tired voice.
"I can't help it." Jubilee said as she finished her coffee. "I think you need to go home." She took a sip of coffee and muttered to herself. "Or else have home show up on your doorstep."
"I heard that." Rogue said. "Ya'll didn't say anything to him when you were home did you?"
"Of course not." Jubilee said innocently. "I wouldn't betray you like that."
"Good." Rogue said as she looked at her watched. "Oh God, Ah have to go." She said rising.
"Where?" Jubilee asked.
"Mah doctor's appointment." Rogue said. "Ah wasn't kidding before, today's mah ultrasound." She cocked her head as she slid on her sunglasses. "Your comin right? You promised."
"I wouldn't miss it for the world." Jubilee said as she rose and they headed to the counter to pay. 'And I bet Gambit wouldn't want to ether if you'd worked things out with him."
"Yeah had ta dig that one in did you?"
"Yup, get in the car."
The midwife's clinic was a one story bungalow off of main street, only a little ways from the café, so it didn't take them long to reach it. Jubilee pared and they approached the low while bungalow. "Are you nervous?" Jubilee asked linking her arm through Rogue's.
"No not real-terrified" Rogue sputtered. "This is the one point where Ah wish Ah was at the mansion. Jean would be so much nicer at this point."
"Too late." Jubilee said as she opened the door for her. "Are you gonna find out if it's a boy or a girl?"
"Ah don't know yet." Rogue said vaguely. "Ah have to check in."
"Alright I'll go sit over here." Jubilee said, as she looked around the clinic. It was a cheery place with bright toy inspired wall paper and colorful furniture. A mound of toys sat on the floor for toddlers and infants, waiting for doctor's appointments with their mothers. Magazines lined the coffee tables browsed through by the other various pregnant women waiting.
"Barely pregnant?" One dark haired woman asked curiously.
"No." Jubilee said, giving Rogue a smiled. "I'm just here for moral support. My little girl is about to turn three."
"It's a good age isn't it?" The women said as she rested her hands on her expanded stomach. "Ah've got two just past that age."
"Chaotic is more like it." Jubilee said as Rogue came and sat down awkwardly. "Everything okay?"
"Fine." Rogue said. "It'll be a few minutes."
"Their busy." Jubilee observed as she eyed the ten or so other pregnant women there. "Remind me not to drink the water here and then sleep with Logan, okay?"
Rogue laughed. "Ahright, I promise."
She squirmed in her seat. "Ah feel so damn awkward." She muttered to Jubilee. "Ah can't get comfortable."
Jubilee opened her mouth to speak but as she did a woman large with child, or more precisely children, waddled by and up to the reception desk. Clearly she was having twins, at least. Jubilee and Rogue both stared and then looked down at Rogue's much smaller bump.
"Suddenly Ah feel just fine." Rogue murmured quickly.
"Tell me about it." Jubilee said with a shudder.
"Ava Carlton?"
"That's me." Rogue said as Jubilee helped her rise.
The nurse smiled and settled Rogue's file in the crook of her arm. "Come on right this way."
She led them down the hall to one of the large sunny exam rooms and then turned with a smile. "The doc'll be right with ya'll." She said with as she turned to go. "Just make yourself comfortable."
With a sigh, Rogue went and hoisted herself up onto the exam table with a sigh. She hated waiting, and that's what pregnancy was, waiting for one thing or another.
"Is it just the ultrasound today?" Jubilee asked as she settled in a nearby chair. "Or is it an exam too?"
"Just a blood pressure check." Rogue said. "Aside from the ultrasound Ah believe. My regular doctor's appointment was only Ah few days ago, so Ah should be fine."
Jubilee nodded. "So what do you want a boy or a girl?"
"Healthy." Rogue said stubbornly, as she tucked her skunk strip behind her ear.
"Oh come on." Jubilee said. "You've got to have a preference."
"Well." Rogue said with a smile.
"What?" Jubilee said with a laugh, "I knew it come on, fess up."
"Ah've been talkin, you know, to the baby." Rogue admitted sheepishly.
"And?" Jubilee said.
"And Ah've been talking to it like, it's a girl." Rogue admitted then said quickly. "But ether would be fine as long as she's healthy."
"Still a daughter would be good." Jubilee said. "She and Genny could be best friends like us."
"God help us all." Rogue false moaned with a laugh and a hand over her heart. "Let me survive the delivery first."
"Speaking of." Jubilee said growing serious. "What if your powers come back when you're in labor?"
"Why would they?" Rogue said cautiously.
"It was a trauma that negated them." Jubilee said. 'And giving birth is a big trauma to your system. It could kick start you powers again, and without Jean or the Prof. what would you do?"
"Ah don't know." Rogue said worriedly. "It never crossed mah mind."
"Oh come on." Jubilee said. "It's never crossed your mind?"
"Ah haven't let it." Rogue informed her.
"You're still a mutant Rogue." Jubilee said. "Just because your powers are inactive, doesn't change that."
"Ah know." Rogue said a tad annoyed. "There's no need to preach. Ah just think Ah need to concentrate on the baby right now, and not my powers."
"But they could affect the baby." Jubilee said gently.
"Ah know." Rogue said as the doctor finally came in and they had to drop the subject. "Ah know."
"So how are we feeling today Ms. Carlton?" She asked kindly as she began check Rogue's pulse.
"Fine." Rogue said. "Big, tired but fine. Mah back aches most of the time, and I'm starting to have trouble getting up and down on mah own"
"Sounds normal." Dr. Metcalf said with a laugh as she checked her charts. "You've reached the point where an internal isn't needed, and everything looks good. Your blood work is good, so it's just a quick appointment today. I'm going to check your blood pressure now, and then a nurse will be in to do your ultra sound."
With an apprehensive sigh as the doctor took her bare and slid the cuff around it, Rogue scolded herself. Jubilee's words were bothering her. Suddenly she was afraid of what would happen if the doctor touched her bare skin, more afraid then she would have liked to admit.
"I know you spent some time in the hospital." The doctor said as they waited for her results. "Any complications since then, cramps, bleeding?"
"Nope." Rogue said as the cuff tightened around her arm. "Ah feel fine, really."
"Glad to hear it." The doctor said as she read the meter. "Your blood pressure's a little high but not worrisome. Still I want to see you back here next week okay?"
"Ahright." Rogue said in a worried tone.
"Don't worry." Doctor Metcalf said, picking up on her tone instantly. "It's something I do with all my patients once they reach their fifth month. It's just procedure."
"Oh." Rogue said, feeling relieved.
"I'm done here, so I'll go get the nurse to get on with things." The doctor said tersely.
"See ya next week, doc." Rogue called as she left the room.
"See, you're in good health." Jubilee said speaking up. "At least that's something you don't have to worry about."
"Yeah." Rogue said. "Ah'm glad Ah found this place."
She'd been at an end when it came to medical help for her pregnancy in Legacy. Not waiting to drive the half an hour to the community hospital, she'd finally asked Aurelia if there was a women's clinic in the area and she'd suggested the local midwife's center. It was just the place Rogue had been looking for, and she'd never had any doubts since she started seeing her months before that Dr. Metcalf had her and the baby's best interests at heart.
A nurse Rogue recognized as being called Lara, came into the room pulling the ultra around machine behind her. " Hey Ava." She said brightly as she hooked the machine up. " How's the spud?"
" Growing." Rogue said happily.
" Ah can see that." She said, appraising Rogue's bump. " But you're not that big for five months."
" Not that big, most women have a bump." Rogue informed her. "Ah have a soccer ball."
"Ah've seen bigger." Lara said as she grabbed a tube of something off of a nearby tray. "Now up with the shirt."
"Yes ma'am." Rogue said meekly as she pulled up her blouse. She motioned to Jubilee. " You gonna take a look with me."
"Of course." Jubilee said as she moved to Rogue's side.
"Damn! That's cold." Rogue said as Lara squired a jelly on her stomach and then began to move the ultrasound's wand over her.
For a moment there was nothing but a blurry image on the screen and then the image began to clear. Rogue cocked her head, she couldn't pick anything out. "What am Ah lookin for Lara?" She asked.
" Oh, sorry." The tech said with a grin. She eyed the screen and then smiled. 'See there," She said tracing a curse. " That's his head, and there's little arm. " She grinned. " Look, he's sucking his thumb."
" Is that his heart beating?" Rogue said awe as she watched the flicking movement on the screen.
" Nice and strong." Lara said and for a moment Rogue was so full of emotion she couldn't speak. Seeing her baby on the screen brought home everything she was fighting for, why she wanted a normal life. Her eyes filled with tears and she didn't try to hide them. This was it, this was what she had wanted and whatever doubts she'd had, had gone like they'd never been.
It had been like that the first time Dr. Metcalf had let her hear the heartbeat through her stethoscope . The little, thump, thump, thump had taken her breath away and she'd stared to cry. All she'd been able to think had been how much she wished Remy had been there to share it with her.
Now, she felt the same but she felt more. She felt like she was on the cusp of something bigger then she'd ever imaged, and it was just so overwhelming, she couldn't believe it.
"Wait a minute?" Jubilee said, catching on something. "He?"
" Or she." The nurse said automatically. She looked at Rogue "Unless you want to know?"
" No." Rogue said suddenly. "Ah want it to be a surprise."
"What!" Jubilee said in disbelief. "Are you sure?"
"Ah'm sure." Rogue said softly. "Ah want to wait and be surprised."
"Okay." Lara said.
" Can you tell me, so she can't hear?" Jubilee pleaded.
"Nope." Lara said as she gently wiped Rogue's stomach off. "If mum doesn't want to know then no one knows." She hit a button and then turned back to Rogue. "Ah'm, just gonna go into the other room and get your pictures for you, then you can go."
As soon as she left the room Jubilee turned to Rogue. "You don't want to know?"
Rogue shrugged. She didn't know why she'd suddenly made that decision, it had come out. "Ah want it to be a surprise." She said defensively. "Ah think its better this way."
"You're going to drive me nuts by the time this kid's born." Jubilee muttered.
"That'll be the world's shortest trip." Rogue quipped as Jubilee chuckled and swatted at her. She pulled her shirt down and sat up. "Come on, let's get mah baby's first's pictures and go, shall we?"
"Sounds good." Jubes said. "I want to get home anyway; it's my night to cook dinner. I've got to figure out what I want to make."
"Take out pizza, or take out Chinese?" Rogue said mildly.
"Very funny." Jubilee said as Lara handed Rogue her pictures.
"Thank you." Rogue said with a smile as she slipped them into her purse and they headed out the door.
"So." Jubilee said as they got back in the truck. "Let's have another look."
"Ya'll know me, way to well." Rogue said as she took the photos out of her purse and they both hunched over them.
For a moment, Rogue was transfixed as show traced the baby's outline with the edge of her finger. "Hello." She murmured softly.
"Amazing isn't?" Jubilee said.
"It makes everything seem so real." Rogue said. "Ah mean, obviously Ah know that the baby's real but this make things feel so…close."
"I know what you mean." Jubilee said with a sigh. "It makes you misty just looking at it."
"Ah feel so overwhelmed." Rogue said softly. "Like Ah'm a teenager again, just getting a grip on being a mutant."
"Of course you do." Jubilee said soothingly.
"It was like that with you?" Rogue asked.
"Oh yeah," Jubes said as she stared the truck... "It's a lot to take in."
"What if Ah can't do it Jubes?" Rogue said in a shaking voice. "What if Ah can't be a mom. Ah don't know anything about baby's really, Ah have no experience in this." She shook her head and hide behind the curtain of her hair. "What if Ah screw something up?"
"You won't." Jubilee said. "You'll be a good mother Rogue, you'll see."
"Ah hope so." Rogue said with a sigh.
"You will." Jubilee said firmly. "You'll get the hang of things, I didn't know anything when Genny was born and I'm a lot younger then you are. If I can do it you can."
"Thank you Jubes." Rogue said. "Ah needed to hear that."
"Your welcome." Jubilee said as she drove. "I need to stop at the grocery store on the way home okay?"
"Sure." Rogue said as they pulled in. "No problem."
They had barely stepped out of the car when it happened as if in slow motion. Rogue dropped her keys, and bent carefully to pick them up, as she did a pair of strong arms clapped around her, taking her by surprise. She screamed and remembering her training drove her elbows back as hard as she could into her attacker's abdomen. Looking up she could see Jubilee struggling with her own attacker, a figure dressed completely in black, complete with black face mask.
"Let me go." Rogue said as she tried to drive back her attacker again. She thought back quickly, remembering everything Remy had taught her and went completely still, letting her attacker think she'd given up.
"That's better." He grunted…as she drove her head back into his chin as hard as she could and stumbled him back with a curse. She hauled off and kicked him square in the crotch as he cried out and curled in on himself and she let him have it again. When he tried to rise her gave him a cross body punch that leveled him for good. Mutant or not, powers or not, pregnant or not, Rogue was a damn good fighter and she knew it. She'd been taught by the best and she was a very good student.
Remy and Logan would have been proud of her.
Jubilee for her part was holding her own but Rogue moved to help her anyways. Before she could however, Jubilee blasted the guy in the eyes with her fireworks, effectively blinding him and sending him stumbling back…but not before he tossed her into the side of the truck, knocking her out cold.
With a curse Rogue went after him, but he had already grabbed his friend and hauled him to a waiting truck that had just pulled up. They were gone before Rogue could do anything else, so she turned her attention to Jubes. "Jubilee." She said as she helped her sit up slowly and carefully. "Come, we've got to get out of here, fast." She knew there was a good chance that whoever it was would come back with reinforcements and she wanted to be as far away as possible when they did.
She carefully helped Jubilee into the truck and slid awkwardly behind the wheel, peeling out of the parking lot as quickly as she could.
"Who the hell were they?" Jubilee muttered as she laid her aching forehead in her hands.
"Ah don't know." Rogue said as she looked at her friend in concern. Right now, she didn't much care; she just wanted to make sure Jubilee was okay. There'd be plenty of time to figure that out once she made sure that her friend was okay. As if on cue the baby kicked, as if to say Ah'm here too Mama and Ah'm okay and Rogue rubbed her belly gently in reassurance. Everything Xavier said was running through her head and she was far more scared then she was willing to admit.
"Come on." Rogue said as she helped Jubes through the front door and kicked it closed behind her. "Let's get inside." Jubilee didn't say a word, just leaned against Rogue and let her lead. "Ah wish you'd let me take you to the hospital."
"No." Jubilee said. "I'm okay, really. It's just a bump." She fingered her goose egg and winced as Rogue laid her on the couch. "I'll be alright."
"You could have a concussion." Rogue said gently as she looked at the lump.
"What about you?" Jubilee said in fear. "You should be checked out, what about the baby?"
"Ah think we're okay." Rogue said "She's kicking and Ah'm not having any pains."
"Yet." Jubilee said trying to rise. "I'm still takin you to the hospital; Logan'll kill me if I don't."
"Thank god, he went to Jackson this morning." Rogue said "Or else we'd be on the Red Eye to New York."
"Maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing." Jubilee muttered as she swayed on her feet and Rogue pushed her back down.
"Stay put." She ordered.
"You need to see a doctor." Jubilee said.
"And so do you." Rogue said. "But first Ah'm going to get some ice for your head, and then Ah'm gonna call Aurelia and see if she'll give a ride."
"You don't trust her." Jubilee said wearily.
"No Ah don't." Rogue agreed as she turned to go into the kitchen "But Ah don't have an alternative, now do ah?" She gestured to the couch. "Just stay put, Ah'll be right back."
"Sure." Jubilee said woozily. "Whatever."
With a fast stride she ran into the kitchen, and opened the freezer then cursed.
No ice.
It was a Mississippi summer and they had no ice.
Where the hell was Bobby Drake when she needed him?
Thinking of a fast alternative she headed for the downstairs bathroom as fast as she could. Once there she looked around, and spotted a stack of hand towels beside the sink. Quickly she turned on the faucet and waited a moment, letting the water get as cold as it could then she dunked the towel until it was soaked.
As she was ringing it out, she heard a noise from the kitchen that caused her to straighten up. "Jubilee." She called as she turned the water off fully. "Jubilee, you okay?"
No answer.
With a curse, she grabbed the towel and headed back towards the kitchen. Her heart was beating a mile a minute as the noise came again. "Jubileeis that yo"- She started to call again as she rounded the corner to the kitchen and stopped dead in her tracks, falling silent. The towel dropped to the floor forgotten as she stared at the source of the noise in utter shock.
Because standing in the middle of Rogue's kitchen, staring right back at her through blazing eyes was Remy LeBeau.
To Be Continued…