Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or basic storylines from the X-Men. I do, however, own Matthew. And yet, still I am poor beyond belief.
Authors Note: THANK YOU REVIEWERS! You all make me so happy.
Flashbacks
'internal dialog'
Matthew
Chapter Five: Happy Birthday Chere
"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Rogue. Happy birthday to you," the voices of all the institutes' residents droned on as Ororo came out of the kitchen carrying a very large cake, which she had baked herself. It was round with a large red encircled x going across the top, the symbol of the X-Men.
Rogue smiled around at everyone, lingering at the younger students before blowing out the candles. "Thanks y'all."
"Here Miss Rogue," Abby, a small girl who was no more than nine, with the ability to call and control water, walked up and handed Rogue a small, clumsily wrapped box. She was one of the students Rogue worked with at least three times a week.
"Thank ya sugah," Rogue smiled and gave the small girl a half hug, accepting the gift. "Ya didn't have ta do that that."
"Open it," she encouraged, excitement clear on her face.
"Alright," Rogue took it and pulled off the paper to find a small white box. When she opened it she found a necklace made out of multi-colored plastic beads with her name spelled out in white beads. "Thank ya sugah," Rogue gushed, tying it around her neck. "It's perfect." Rogue smiled down at her and handed her a piece of the cake that Ororo had cut.
"Your welcome," Abby replied beaming as she accepted her cake and went off to one of the other tables.
The rest of the afternoon went off the same way, with Rogue accepting gifts from the others and smiling a lot. A lot of the smiles were forced though as she avoided any kind of contact with Bobby or Logan, which was difficult considering they were both at the party.
It wasn't until after seven that Rogue found herself in her bedroom, putting away her gifts and preparing for the night out with the girls. She had decided on a pair of red leather pants, a black leather belt and a black corset top, which laced up the front and had small red roses embroidered all over it, with red lace sleeves going down past her wrists, concealing her black gloves and a low neck with a red bloodstone resting from a silver chain against her pale skin. Her hair was curled back, and her white bangs fell in tight curls framing her face. She had just gotten to the mirror and was applying her eyeliner when she began to think back to the last time she went to a club. It was over five years ago and Remy had talked her into going out with him and his cousins. She could still remember their conversation.
"Come on cherie. We non been out in ages. It'll be fun," Remy said, wrapping his arms around her bare abdomen as she applied her eyeliner.
"Ah know, but it's still weird," she looked up in the mirror and at the sleeping form on their bed behind them. "Ah ain't nevah left him alone fer this long before. And at night."
"Ah know petite, but Tante Mattie she take good care of him hahn," Remy replied kissing her temple and resting his chin on her shoulder. "She did after all raise dis ol' thief."
"Aw Rems, don't blame her for that," Rogue teased as she finished her makeup and turned in his arms, looking up at him. "And stop usin' that damned empathy on meh," Rogue glared at him, but the puppy dog eyes he gave her quickly turned her frown into a smile. "Fahne, Ah'll go out and have fun, but Ah don't have ta lahke it."
"Fair enough mon amore," Remy replied with a smirk, kissing her deeply.
A knock at the door brought Rogue back to reality. She shook her head and looked at her reflection, noticing that she'd actually finished her makeup. She sighed and threw the eyeliner pencil down on the dresser. "Come in."
"Hey Rogue, you ready yet?" Jubilee asked, entering the room in a pair of black leather pants, a yellow tube top, black velvet chocker, several bangle bracelets, large hoop earrings and a chain belt all over black leather three inch heeled boots. Her hair was pulled up in a ponytail with her bangs spiked up. "Wow, look at the sex kitten," Jubilee muttered, stopping to check her own makeup.
"Jus' tryin' ta keep up sugah," Rogue grinned grabbing her purse and car keys. "Is Kit ready?"
"For once yes," Jubilee replied turning back to Rogue and pulling on her yellow leather trench coat. "She's down stairs getting the third degree from our own Mr. Summers."
"Poor thing," Rogue laughed hitting the lights and shutting the door on their way out. They found Kitty, Charles, Scott, Ororo, Kurt and Logan down in the rec room, waiting on them. "Alright Kit let's jet. Ah'm agin' by the second."
"Hold on, when are you planning on getting back?" Scott asked as the three girls headed towards the garage.
"Earliest, sometime tomorrow night," Jubilee replied as they stopped at the front door for Kitty to put her jacket on over her black leather miniskirt, blue halter top, black knee high boots and assorted jewelry, her long red hair pulled back in a French twist.
"If we ain't back by the end of the week," Rogue continued, opening the door.
"Be happy for us," Kitty finished as they exited and headed for the car.
"Ah to be young again," Charles smiled as the other teachers disbursed, leaving him and Scott alone.
xoxoxoxoxoxox
'Thirty minutes,' Remy thought as he jumped off his bike and headed into the shop. 'Only thirty minutes away from de Institute. And Ah'll be deux hours early.' His smile broadened as he entered the store and sauntered right up to the clerk. "Bonjour cherie, Remy be needin' de most belle bouquet of fleurs y' have."
The young blonde smiled and went about the task, batting her eyes at him. "Really, what's the occasion gorgeous?"
"Today be mon amore's birthday," he stated, taking the flowers from her and paying for them. "Merci," he saluted her and walked out the door.
He was walking up the stairs at the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters by ten pm, a large bouquet of blood red roses in his hand. He couldn't believe how nervous he felt at seeing her again. As soon as he knocked the doubts started to pound at him. What if she was seeing someone else? What if she'd forgotten him completely? He didn't even know what her powers were. This was probably a huge mistake. Maybe he should have called first. He should just turn and hightail it out of there before…too late.
"Hi, how can I help you?" a tall auburned haired man with dark red sunglasses stood before him, looking at him oddly.
'Well, now or never,' Remy thought, quickly regaining his senses and turning on the charm. "Bonjour Monsieur, could Remy come in?"
The man looked at him oddly for a moment before a realization dawned on him and he moved aside. "Of course," he moved aside and let Remy in. "How can we help you today Mr…"
"LeBeau. Remy LeBeau," he held out his right hand, letting the roses rest at his side.
"Of Louisiana?" a new voice asked, and Remy turned to see Xavier wheeling up to him.
"Oui," now it was Remy's turn to look confused as he stared at the man.
The next thing Remy knew, he could hear Xavier's voice, but the older man's lips weren't moving. 'Rogue has told me a lot about you Mr. LeBeau. I take it you've come to see her?'
Remy hated psychics, but judging by this, Remy had a pretty good hunch that Xavier was trying to keep a secret so he played along and answered with his mind. 'Oui.'
"Professor, do you know this guy?" Scott asked, looking between the two men.
"No Scott, not yet. But he is an old friend of one of our students I am Professor Charles Xavier, it's a pleasure to meet you," Charles extended his hand to Remy who took it cautiously. "Would you care to join me in my office Mr. LeBeau? I'd love to get to know you." He smiled kindly at Remy and began to speak to his mind again. 'She has gone out for the evening with some friends. I'm sure she will return soon and in the meantime I do believe there is much we should discuss.'
"Of course monsieur," Remy answered, grabbing his duffle bag from the doorway before Scott shut it. "Lead the way."
Remy was seriously impressed with the wealth around him as soon as he entered the office. He sank into the chair opposite the desk as Xavier took his place behind the desk. "So," Remy began, slipping a playing card from his coat and twirling it nimbly between his fingers. "What has mon amore told y'?"
"Not much Mr. LeBeau," Charles said, lacing his fingers and placing his hands before him on the desk. "She told me how you met, about your lives together. About your son," he noticed Remy bristle and quickly continued. "My condolences to you."
"Merci," Remy replied curtly removing his sunglasses and staring at the Professor with demon eyes. "Everyone here know 'bout dis?"
"No. Actually, as far as I know, I am the only one she has discussed her past with. And then it was only out of necessity."
"Why?"
"It has to do with her powers. Are you aware of what Rogue is capable of?"
"Non."
"Well whenever Rogue touches someone, her skin absorbs their personality, their life force, and in our case, their powers. Someone has already died because of them, giving her the permanent ability to fly, super strength and near invulnerability. She told me that you are empathic. Is that your only ability?"
Here the card in Remy's fingers stopped and began to glow a bright pink color. He tossed it up into the air and it exploded above his head. "Non. So, she non able t' touch non more?"
"Not without some kind of barricade, no. But she is doing well here. She's going to school to become an instructor. Serves as my own personal assistant and works with several children after school."
"She happy?"
Charles let out a long sigh and looked down at his hands. "I believe she's as happy without you young man as you are without her."
Remy ran a hand over his hair. "Den it be bon Ah'm here?"
"Come, I'll show you around," Charles said smiling, rolling out from behind the desk. "And tell you what exactly we're about."
xoxoxoxoxoxox
Remy smiled as he placed the last of his shirts into the drawer. He'd have to get more stuff, but he was going to wait. Rogue may not want him here after all, since she'd refused to come and get him before. Not that it would have done any good, since the Professor offered after Remy had left New Orleans, but still, the possibility existed. And he wouldn't force himself on her. If she wanted him gone, he'd go. But first, he just had to see her one more time.
He turned towards the bed and smirked. Four perfectly wrapped gifts sat in a row on the bed. One for every birthday he missed and todays. He looked around the room and smirked. It wasn't half bad, although it was lacking in the personalized décor. He'd fix that though. There'd be plenty of that later.
He'd have to admit, he'd been more than a little disappointed that Rogue and him weren't sharing, although it would be a lot to ask of her on his first night there. The Professor had been kind enough to give him the room next to hers though, and that kind of made up for it. He looked over at the clock and sighed. 2 a.m. 'Merde, where is she?' Remy wondered as he looked once more at the gifts before opening the door and heading downstairs.
He'd already been introduced to most of the Institute, which had been an experience in itself. Two of the men, Bobby and Logan, had given him odd looks and he got the most powerful emotions coming off them. He had a feeling he'd have to watch them around his cherie. Especially Logan. He heard the front door slam as he reached the top of the stairs and his heart elated as the next voice he heard was one all to familiar. He quickened his pace and found himself coming in on a rather hostile scene. In the center of the room Rogue and Bobby were in what looked like the middle of a heated argument while Charles, two girls Remy hadn't met yet, Ororo, Kurt, Scott, Logan and Henry all watched on.
"Ah don't care what ya think, ya had no right draggin' us outta there lahke that!" Rogue yelled, poking a finger into the middle of Bobby's chest causing the young man to wince.
"Yeah, well pardon me if I'm a little upset that some random stranger has his hands all over my girlfriend!" Bobby yelled back, causing Remy's heart to stop for a second.
'Did he say 'girlfriend?'' the Cajun wondered before eyeing the guy closely and letting out a small snort. 'Dat's non problem dere.'
"Ah can't believe how unbelievably dense ya are," Rogue said, placing her hands on her hips. "Ya honestly didn't think yesterday was a breakup?"
"It was just a fight, that's it," Bobby replied, looking at the group around them nervously.
"YA ADMITTED YA ARE HAVIN' SEX WITH ANOTHER GIRL! HOW IS THAT NOT A BREAKUP?" Rogue screamed back at him, beyond her level of frustration for the night.
"Alright, let us calm down," Charles said, attempting to be the peacemaker. "It's late. Perhaps we should all retire to our rooms and discuss this in the morning with slightly cooler heads?"
Remy decided he'd been quiet long enough. And since Rogue was always most beautiful when she was pissed off, he couldn't resist egging her on a little more. "Don' know 'bout dat Monsieur. Maybe y' should let her hit him and see what's left after? Cause if Remy know his cherie, she non be satisfied until she have blood."
Rogue seemed to freeze in place as her heart stopped. 'It can't be,' she thought, turning her head slowly to see the very familiar form of a very familiar man. "Remy?"
"Miss me petite?" Remy asked cockily, offering her his world famous smirk and opening his arms towards her. Without another word, she flew herself, literally, into his arms, sending them both to the stairs behind him and burying her head in his chest. "Ah reckon so." (AN: This line isn't mine. It's from the old X-Men cartoon, Night of the Sentinels pt 2 where they are rescuing Jubilee from the Sentinel base and Remy swoops down on the rope. Good episode.)
"I take it they know each other?" Ororo asked looking at Charles.
"Yes, quite well," Charles replied, smiling a bit. "Now, it is getting late. Jubilation, Katherine, I do believe you have class tomorrow morning? And the rest of you, I'm sure you're tired after such a long day."
"Yeah everyone, lets leave them alone," Scott agreed, ushering Jubilee and Kitty up the stairs past the couple, still intertwined on the stairway.
"I agree," Ororo said, lacing her arm with Kurt's. "Shall we?"
"Of course mein Herz," Kurt replied, and with a loud BAMPF, they disappeared.
"I do believe I will retire as well. Good night all," Hank said, heading for his room downstairs, next to his lab.
"Good night Henry," Charles called after him before turning to Logan and Bobby, who both still stood fuming. "I trust that you both will give them some privacy this evening?" there was a hint of a warning in his voice as he headed towards his bedroom. "For your own sakes," he added as he rounded the corner.
"As if you have ta ask Swamp Rat," Rogue breathed, situating herself so she was straddling his hips on the stairs and looked him over, noticing he'd filled out more, had grown a goatee and his hair was longer. Then she noticed his eyes. "Oh Gawd Remy," she said, cupping his face in her gloved hands and running her thumbs over his temples.
Remy instantly became self-conscious and went for the sunglasses in his pocket only to have Rogue grab his hand, leaving the other at his face. "Don't ya dare," she ordered, looking deep into the red and black orbs.
"So dey non bother y' petite?"
Rogue shook her head slowly. "Ah've nevah seen anything so beautiful in mah life," she answered honestly, drawing closer to him. "And they're mah favorite colors."
Remy grinned up at her, bringing his hands to rest on her hips. "Ah non know jus' how much Ah missed y' mon amore, till dis moment." He couldn't resist. Knowing the danger, he leaned forward and kissed her deeply, not able to resist her lips any longer. She still tasted the same, like strawberries and chocolate and her lips still felt like velvet.
Rogue kissed him back with a passion that she wasn't aware she possessed any more. It was a few moments, but not enough, before Rogue felt the pull at her lips and the veins in her face and Remy's began to bulge and his memories began to slip into her mind. She quickly pushed away, breathing labored as she held him steady, his hands still firmly planted on her hips. One thought came thru to the surface of her mind. He knew about her power. Xavier had told him everything, including how she killed Carol with a touch. He knew, and yet he hadn't cared, knowing she was worth the pain. A part of her wanted to be mad at him, like she always did when someone invaded her space, especially when it was someone like Bobby, looking for the thrill and danger a touch of her skin could provide. But right now, she just couldn't make herself be mad at the man beneath her. She smiled down at him and leaned forward, happy he didn't pull away. "When yer feelin' up ta it sugah, we'll go upstairs and ya can give me those presents sittin' on yer bed," her now red and black eyes sparkled with mischief.
"So y' know Remy's thoughts now cherie? Y' know what be in dem boxes t'?" he asked, tickling her sides slightly.
She giggled once before grabbing his hands, easily holding them in place away from her sides. "Non. Didn't hold on long enough fer that."
"Bon," Remy smirked, as Rogue got up and pulled him from the stairs. "Den we go find out together non?"
"Oui," Rogue smiled up at him, truly happy for the first time in four years. "Let meh jus' grab mah purse." She rushed over to where Bobby and Logan were still standing, watching her and Remy. Ignoring their presence, she bent down and grabbed her purse and jacket before rushing back to his side and, taking his hand, interlacing her fingers with his own, leading him upstairs.
Logan and Bobby simply stood there, watching the young couple before them race happily up the stairs. After a few moments Bobby let out a defeated sigh before heading up to his own room. Logan on the other hand, let out a low feral growl and sliced thru a nearby plant holder, cutting it clean in two before stalking off towards the garage.
Once upstairs in Remy's room Rogue smiled and threw her things down on a chair, next to his ever-present brown leather trench coat. She delicately ran a finger over the collar, smiling at the memory of the day she bought it for him. He'd never been without it since that day. She turned to face him as he closed the door and moved towards her, wrapping his hands around her waist and his forehead on top of her hair, breathing her in. She wrapped her own arms around his neck, pushing up against him. "Gawd Ah missed ya," she purred, closing her eyes and breathing in his own spicy scent and the lingering smell of cigarettes.
"Know de feelin' mon amore. Ah'm afraid t' let y' go. Dat when Ah open mah eyes y' non longer be here," Remy replied softly.
Rogue's smile broadened and two tears slid silently down her cheeks as they stood there holding one another. Finally Rogue opened her eyes and pulled her head away slightly to look up at him. "Ya knew 'bout mah skin?"
"Oui. Xavier told meh."
"And still ya risked it? He told ya it hurt right?"
"Oui."
"Then why?"
"Cause petite, y' worth it," Remy replied honestly, kissing the top of her head. "Now come, we open dese presents," he let her go enough to pull her towards the bed.
"Ah don't need any other presents sugah. Yer enough this year," Rogue replied smiling. She knew that she should mention going down to New Orleans and the women and what her skin truly meant to any kind of relationship they could ever have, but right now, she was just too happy to mess that up. It'd been a long time since she'd been this happy and it felt good, so she'd just wait and deal with the other stuff some other time.
Remy stopped next the bed and turned to look at her. "So y' want Remy t' take dem back t' de store den? Cause he can," he bent down to pick them up off the bed only to have Rogue rush in front of him to grab them.
"Don't ya dare sugah," she said as he caught her in his arms and wrapped them around her waist, kissing her covered shoulder.
"Open dem den," Remy said, sitting down on the bed and pulling her with him, sitting her next to him, he leaned back on an elbow and watched her look over the gifts, biting her lower lip as she decided which one to open first. "Here, dis one," Remy said handing her a long, slender box wrapped in green paper with a gold bow. She smiled at him and took it, noticing the 18 scrawled on top of it in Remy's handwriting. She raised an eyebrow and looked at him questioningly. "De numbers are for de birthday dat Ah missed. Ah bought a new one every year, jus' in case. Open dem in dat order."
"Okay," Rogue replied, ripping the paper off giddily. She always loved what Remy got her. He knew her better than anyone else. It was a long velvet covered jewelry box. She opened it gingerly and found a long silver charm bracelet, with a small silver teddy bear charm on it. She lifted it out of the box and turned the charm over, to see Matthew engraved on the back. A tear rolled down her cheek, which Remy quickly wiped away before latching it around her waist. "Oh Rems…"
"Open de next one," Remy encouraged her, taking the bracelet and clasping it around her wrist as she grabbed the next package which was a longer, heavier box, with red paper and a black bow with her other hand. She smiled at him and ripped it open to reveal a black leather trench coat that matched his and a small silver king of hearts playing card charm, Remy's name engraved on the back. She looked down at him and smiled, leaning forward and kissing the top of his head. She pulled back and handed him the charm and her wrist, so he could attach it to the bracelet, which he happily did.
Next she opened another long slender box wrapped in purple and green. This one held an elaborate exotic looking silver necklace that's pieces crossed over each other at various intervals and would rest close to her neck, an emerald sat in the center of it all. She smiled and held up her hair. He sat up and latched it around her neck and admired it against her pale skin. He smiled and returned to his place as she looked in the box again and found another charm, this time a queen of hearts with Rogue scrawled on the back. Again she held out her wrist and after he had attached it, noticed that he had put one playing card on either side of the bear. She smiled and grabbed the last box.
This time she positioned herself directly in front of him, sitting cross-legged so she could face him, she tore off the silver and gold paper to reveal a long white box. After taking off the lid she found two small jewelry boxes within it. She took out the first one and found another charm. Two silver R's intertwined with one another. She grinned and once again held out her wrist. He attached it quickly, the smile on his face growing as he got up and sat across from her, crossing his legs as well and watched her face intently. She pulled out the next box and discarded the first two with the other paper and boxes on the floor and looked up at him, smiling excitedly as she lifted the lid.
She let out a small gasp at the silver promise ring that stared back at her. It was three emeralds in a row, with small diamond chips in between each one and sparkled in the dim light of the room. "Oh Remy it's beautiful," she whispered as he took it from her and took her left hand in his own, as he pulled of her glove she noticed that he had a pair of black gloves on as well and tears began to sting her eyes. Bobby had never thought to wear gloves for her.
"Ah bought dis for several reasons," Remy began, slipping in on her left ring finger. "De first is cause it matches dose belle eyes o' y'. De second is cause it matches dat belle jewelry dat Ah bought y' before. De third is cause Ah know y' love it. And de fourth, and de most important be because it represent us. De first stone is f' our past, and everything dat we had in it. De second stone is now, and all de things we been thru t' git back t' one another. And de last one is de future," he looked deep into her eyes and wiped the tears that had begun to fall with one hand. "And how it be better now dat we together."
She interlaced her left hand with his right and smiled. "There all beautiful Rems, but this jus' ain't fair," she whispered, her voice laced with tears.
"Pourquoi?"
"Cause Ah really wanna kiss ya right now and Ah can't."
"Never think y' can kiss dis Cajun if y' want t'."
"But Ah don't wanna hurt ya."
"Y' hurt dis ol' thief more if y' push him away, comprenez?"
"Oui," Rogue replied, leaning forward and kissing him gently, pulling away before her powers could have too much of an effect.
"Dere, dat non so bad," Remy grinned, brushing a stray white bang from her face.
"How'd Ah git this lucky?" Rogue asked, smiling up at him.
"Y' ain't de one dat's lucky," Remy replied leaning over and kissing her forehead, holding on long enough so she knew just how much he missed her, before pulling away.
Rogue smiled and wiped at the new tears streaming down her face. "Ah don't think Ah've cried this much since…" her voice trailed off and she looked down at her hands. They both knew what day she was thinking of.
"Not now petite," Remy whispered kissing her gloved hand. "We have plenty of time to talk 'bout all de bad things, hahn?" Rogue nodded her head slowly. "Bon. Now it be late. Y' want Remy t' walk y' home?" he grinned at her, rising and offering her his hand.
"Oui," Rogue replied, wiping the last tear away before she let him help her up. She grabbed her jackets and her purse and Remy opened the door for her, closing it behind them and walking her the three feet to the next room. Rogue opened the door and hit the light switch before turning to face him. "Well, Ah had a lovely tahme tonight Mr. LeBeau," she said, grinning at him.
"Of course y' did cherie. Remy knows how to treat a femme," Remy replied grinning back. "Night mon amore," he added, kissing her hand once more, before turning to head back to his room.
"Hey Rems," Rogue called after him.
"Oui?" he stopped and turned to face her, his hand resting on his doorknob.
"Ah don't wanna sleep alone tonight," she whispered, looking at him anxiously.
Remy quickly crossed the distance and lifted her up into his arms bridal style. "Y' know Remy could never say non t' y' ma chere," Remy replied, carrying her into the room and shutting the door with his foot.
Down the hall, Kitty and Jubilee gave each other a knowing look before entering their room for the night.
Authors Note: Sorry it took so long to get this up guys. But I re-wrote it once, and then, I just couldn't rush it. This is, after all, their reunion and although I'm sure you guys couldn't wait for me to finish it, I wanted it to be good. So forgiveness please and hey, at least it's long (17 pages). I could have stopped it right after he spoke for the first time to Rogue, but I didn't. Hope you all enjoyed it and please let me know what you think. (And look, no angst. Only fluff.)
Translations:
Fleurs flowers
Deux two
mein Herz my heart
pourquoi why
comprenez understand