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.

Lady Insomnia – My dear you know me too well. How exciting, the first thing you want to review on your new computer is my story. I'm touched.

Matthew

Chapter Six: Harsh Reality

Remy LeBeau awoke the next morning with a smile set firm on his face. It had taken four years, but at last, he was happy again and they were together. Then a frown touched his lips. 'What if it were all a dream? What if this warm body next t' moi is jus' some other stranger? Another disappointment?' Slowly, he opened one eye and sighed in relief, the smile returning as he opened the other. There was Rogue, his Rogue, curled up next to him, both of them in long sleeves, pants, socks and gloves and her head resting against his chest as her arms wrapped around his abdomen.

As he lay their, admiring her sleeping form and how the early morning sunlight splashed in over her face, he marveled at how rested he felt. Although he'd only slept a few hours at most, it had been so restful he felt completely rejuvenated. As he lay watching her, his mind began to reflect on other mornings where he'd woken up with her in his arms, and these occurred long before Matthew had come along.

It had all started when he was thirteen and she had just turned eleven. They had decided to go exploring in the swamps and had gotten lost, falling asleep in each other's arms. The next day the search party found them, sleeping soundly. They didn't in fact wake up until after they had been taken back home and placed in their own beds. It had been the first good nights sleep for either of them ever, since they both suffered from horrific nightmares. After that, there weren't many nights that Remy didn't sneak over to Rogue's house or vice versa after they'd been put to bed.

Of course, as they got older, they didn't always just go to bed. In fact, every night since her school dance he came over and they made love before going to sleep. That had been around the time he started sleeping in the nude. (AN: And a nice image there for every female reading this. Especially Ishandahalf.) He smirked at the memory of some of those nights. Especially the ones where Remy had barely stepped thru the window to find Rogue already ripping at his cloths, her hands exploring everywhere and pulling him to her, demanding him at that precise moment, her parents only two doors away. He quickly had to divert his thoughts since they were causing him to become aroused and it was definitely too soon in their reunion for that. Especially since at the moment she was still asleep and he was trying to calculate a way around her now poisonous skin.

As he thought of several different available options, the alarm at the side of the bed began to blare and Rogue let out a loud groan before reluctantly rolling away from him and hitting the snooze button, cocooning herself farther into the covers.

"Mornin' ma cherie," Remy whispered huskily into her ear before kissing her shoulder and wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her into a spoon position.

"Mornin'," she grumbled back, turning and snuggling closer to him. After a few moments the alarm blared again and Rogue flipped over and slammed her fist down, crushing the alarm with a loud crash. She let out a groan and buried her face in his chest. "Ah don't wanna go ta class today."

"So don't cherie," Remy replied naturally, remembering similar conversations in the past, and the early morning haze still covering his mind causing him to not think before replying, "stay home. We stay in bed and make love all day."

Rogue's eyes shot open as the reality of his words hit her. That's what they'd used to do. She'd fake being sick for her mother while he hid in the closet and they both prayed that her mom didn't notice his boxers lying on the desk, and after her parents left, they'd make love in every room of the house. It'd been some of her favorite memories. Now, because of her curse, they couldn't have that anymore. Quickly she threw the covers off and pulled away from him, heading towards the bathroom. "Ah gotta git ready."

Remy had already realized his mistake though, as soon as it had left his lips and he quickly sprang to the edge of the bed and caught her wrist, pulling her onto the bed in front of him. He looked directly into her eyes, which were already starting to tear up, and grabbed her chin in his fingers. "Oh cherie, Ah non mean non t'ing by 't."

"Ah know, but who are we foolin' really?" Rogue asked trying to pull away only to have him grab her other wrist and grip them tighter, holding her in place. "This can never be what it was before."

"Oh, and what exactly was 't?" Remy asked seriously.

"Oh come on Rems, the physical was so important ta us. Hell we couldn't even fight wit out grabbin' an touchin'. How do ya think we can manage around this?" she asked wagging her fingers in his face. She could of easily pulled away, but didn't, afraid if she did, she'd break his arm with the death grip he had on her.

"So dat's all we was t' y'? De sex? De physical? Nothin' more? Well dat's bon t' know!" he released her wrists and stood up, pacing the room anger clouding his vision. "Tell meh, is dat all Ah meant t' y'? Cause here Ah had dis crazy idea dat y' love meh as much as Ah love y'."

"Of course Ah love ya! How can ya even insinuate fer a second that Ah don't? I did have yer baby for Christ's sake!" Rogue was off the bed in an instant, standing before him, her hands on her hips as she shouted back.

"Oh, y' mean y' still remember our son? Figured he don' slipped y' mind," as soon as the words left his mouth he regretted them. Even more so as he watched her face fall and the tears spring to her eyes.

She looked away from him quickly, burying her head in her hands as she rushed into the bathroom. "How could ya say that?" she whispered, slamming the door behind her.

Out in the hallway, Jubilee, Kitty and Bobby all paused and looked at one another, the reality of the fight they'd over heard hitting them in the gut. "Rogue's a mom?" Kitty whispered to Jubilee who merely shrugged as Bobby turned beat red and stalked down the hallway in anger. Both girls looked at each other for a moment before sneaking back down the hallway towards the stairs.

Remy let out a sigh and ran his hands thru his hair. This happened every time they fought. No matter how much they loved each other, they always found a way to hurt each other in the end. He sighed and walked over to the door, placing his hands on either side of it. "Come on chere, open de door. Y' know Remy non mean dat. 'M sorry mon amore, please open de door."

"NON!" she shouted back, tears stinging her eyes as she walked over to the sink and turned on the cold water, splashing several handfuls into her face and then looking at her reflection in the mirror.

"Come on petite, don' push meh away again," Remy pleaded, remember their last fight. It had been just after the funeral and involved Rogue accusing Remy of not believing her when she said Belle was behind it, and it couldn't be her baby they just buried. She hadn't talked to him for almost three days when he mouthed off, telling her she was living in a fantasy that wasn't helping anyone. That hadn't been a good thing at all. And the worst part was, he had believed her. It was his father that told him to say it. Said it would help ease her suffering if he used a little tough love to help her see the truth. Last time he'd ever taken his advice on women. He'd gotten her to forgive him only days before they took her away.

The more Rogue looked at her reflection the angrier she got, and hearing those words only pushed her over the edge. She turned and pulled open the door, glaring at him with emerald eyes. "Why? Don't wanna have ta git dressed, git on yer bike and drive all the way back ta yer whores! Tell meh, was Ah even gone a week before ya were sleepin' with half the Bayou?"

"Oh, so y' bring dat up eh chere? 'M non de one who non pay attention when someone calls dere name when dey run away! Yeah, Ah know all 'bout y' little trip down South," Remy yelled back, seeing the shocked look pass over her face. "Called after y' t' but y' non turn around. What 'bout y'? How long y' wait 'fore shackin' up wit dat David freak? Or de ice boy down de hall? Oh yeah, know 'bout dem t'. And de hairy Wolverine, still wondering about dat one."

"Ah didn't shack up wit anybody! Even if Ah wanted ta Ah couldn't. Even though Ah want ta now Ah can't! So enlighten meh Remy, since ya know about ALL of mah relationships since us, how many girls have you FUCKED since Ah left?" her breathing was heavier and she was clearly upset as she glared daggers at him.

"More den Ah can count petite. Now ask meh how many Ah've evah made love t'," Remy replied, his voice oddly calm as he gazed at her, sorrow and hurt in his eyes.

Rogue let out a long sigh, knowing the answer to that. She brought both hands to her head and pushed her hair away from her eyes, holding it back. "We gotta stop doin' this," she replied quietly sinking onto the bed and looking up at him. "Yer not even here a day and were already fightin'."

"But we bon at it," Remy smirked and went before her, crouching down and looking into her eyes, wrapping his arms around her waist. "And y' look so belle when y' mad," he added winking at her.

"Ha ha, ain't ya a funny one," Rogue teased, bringing her feet up on the bed frame and resting her knees against his sides wrapping her arms around his neck. "We really do need ta talk 'bout this though. Preferably lahke the adults we're supposed ta be."

"Bon idea," Remy said standing, taking Rogue with him and moving over to the side of the bed, laying her down gently before crawling in next to her and laying on his side. "So let's talk."

"Ah do have class today," Rogue began, looking over at the clock and seeing how late she was.

"So skip it. We more important non?"

"Oui," Rogue turned back to face him, her classes already forgotten. "So where do we begin?"

"Désolé fer what Ah said and fer de femmes," Remy began only to have Rogue's gloved fingers rest against his lips, silencing him.

"Ah know Rems. Don't worry 'bout it. Yer in mah head remember. Ah know what ya were lookin' fer," she replied, kissing the back of her fingers, feeling his own lips mimic the action on the other side. She pulled away and bit her lip, looking at him thoughtfully. "Now, 'fore we talk about anything else, there's somethin' important that Ah gotta tell ya and Ah'm not really sure how. But first ya gotta promise meh somethin'." She hadn't breathed a word of what she was about to say to anyone, not even the Professor. It was something that she tried not to think about too much herself, because it only hurt worse and one of the few memories that she wished had faded away.

"O' course petite, anything."

"Ya won't go and do anything stupid."

"On mon honor. Now what is it?" Remy asked, concern in his eyes.

Rogue took a deep breath to steady her nerves before looking into his eyes, knowing if she broke his gaze she'd lose her nerve. "Do ya remember on Henri's birthday, 'bout three weeks before Matthew's?"

"Oui?"

"And y' remember how Tante Mattie had Matthew with her so we snuck upstairs and spent the afternoon goin' at it in Henri's bed?"

"Oui," Remy smirked at the memory of the birthday idea he'd come up with for his older brother.

"Well, bout two weeks after mah Daddy took meh away, Ah found out Ah was six weeks pregnant," Remy opened his mouth to speak but she rested her fingers on his lips again. "Let meh finish. When Ah told him and Mamma and told them Ah had ta go back and tell ya, Daddy got mad, and he thru meh down the stairs."

The bed around them began to glow a pale pink but he remained silent, anger flaring in his eyes as he waited for her to continue.

She looked at the bed, feeling the heat coming off of it and wondered if this was the best idea before continuing. "Ah was out fer two days, and when Ah came to the doctor's told meh that Ah lost the baby. About a week after Ah was released, they brought David over and while he was upstairs with meh Ah started thinkin' 'bout the two babies Ah had jus' lost, and it hurt so much, when he leaned over and kissed meh, Ah kissed him back, hopin' that would make the pain go away a little. And then Ah discovered this," she held her hand in front of her face and looked at it for a long moment. When she pulled it away there were fresh tears in her eyes.

Remy quickly pulled the charge from the bed and Rogue into his arms hugging her tightly. "Oh cherie, why y' non come t' moi? We coulda found y' help. At least den we woulda been together. Oh Ah'll kill 'im."

"Ya promised," Rogue said into his shoulder, wrapping her arms around him. "No one else knows bout that," she added in a whisper. "And sides, Ah did go to N'awlins 'fore Ah headed north. Looked in yer window at ya, but Ah just couldn't risk hurtin' ya lahke Ah did David. Couldn't bring mahself ta do it. Ah'm sorry Remy, Ah'm so sorry."

"Fine. But Ah evah see 'im again, non promises, comprenez? And dere non fer y' t' be sorry 'bout. Next tame jus' don't doubt us, hahn?" Remy cupped her face in his hands and looked deep into her eyes.

"Oui," Rogue nodded, as Remy wiped the tears from her eyes and kissed her forehead, wavering slightly from the contact as he pulled back to look at her. "Now, 'bout mah skin. How we supposed ta get around that?"

"Easy, y' learn control."

"Remy Ah've been tryin' ta fer four years. Ah don't think that Ah can control it."

"Non-sens. Ah believe in y' petite. And until y' do," Remy flipped her onto her back and placed himself on top of her, his elbows resting on either side of her, supporting his weight. "Remy have some ideas," he ran a finger slowly down her cheek. "But non rush. We take our time. Git t' know each other again."

"Oh Ah don't know," Rogue said, wrapping her legs around his waist the way she used to. "Ah think Ah know ya well enough," she grinned tapping her temple lightly.

Remy grinned back down at her, placing the disturbing news she'd told him aside for a moment. He'd take care of all that later on, of that he was certain. Quickly he brought his arm under her and pulled her closer, still supporting all his weight off of her. "True," he breathed huskily against her neck, biting her shoulder thru the shirt she wore. "If dat be what y' want mon amore, y' jus' tell Remy un thing."

"What?" Rogue breathed as his hand that had been stroking her cheek found it's way to her breast, and was kneading it gently eliciting all the right responses.

"Where y' keep de extra sheets?"

Authors Note: What a lovely place to stop don't ya think? Again, I feel everyone's imaginations are much better than me writing out just what they are doing. Now, before anyone says anything, like they always do to me (which needs to stop btw) THEY'RE NOT RUSHING! For goodness sake, they were lovers for two years, have known each other for thirteen years and haven't seen each other in four! And for those four years Rogue has been the untouchable so believe me, if I were her, and the love of my life returned, I'd be looking for some luvin. That being said thanks again to all who reviewed. Wanna do it again? Makes me happy.

Translations:

Non-sens – nonsense

Un – one