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.
The reason Matty doesn't recognize them is because the picture is all worn now for one, for two, Rogue and Remy are both a lot older now, and that can change you. Especially when you factor in the loss of your only child. And three, there's the whole white-streaks in the hair and red on black eyes. Don't worry, when the time's right, he'll figure it all out. He is, after all, a very special little boy.
'Thoughts'
Matthew
Chapter Twelve: Going Home
"Git here chil'," Tante Mattie's voice rang out as Rogue climbed out of the back of the limo that had been waiting for them at the airport. On the porch, Mattie stood with Mercy, Henry, Jean Luc and half of Remy's cousins.
"Tante!" Rogue called jogging into the older woman's open arms, burying her head in her neck.
"Welcome home chil'," Mattie whispered, wrapping her arms around the small woman. "Now y' git over here t' garcon," she called to Remy who had hung back near the car, his hands in his pockets. She held one arm open, leaving the other firmly around Rogue as the boy walked into the embrace, encircling both women in his arms.
"Bonjour petit frère," Henri said stepping forward and slapping Remy on the back before pulling him into a tight embrace while Mercy wrapped her arms around Rogue and Emil, Lapin and Theo crowded around them.
Jean Luc held back near the front door, unsure of what to do. His son was home with the love of his life. The son that he had agreed to banish from New Orleans and love that he himself had helped to send away so that Remy could marry another woman.
After all the hugs were give Remy regarded his father as Rogue stood next to Henri, her arms around him as she watched Remy and Jean Luc curiously. Finally Remy climbed the stairs and came to stand before his father. "Bonjour Papa," he said.
"Bonjour mon petite," Jean Luc replied as both men regarded each other for a moment before the elder pulled his son into a tight embrace. "It bon t' have y' home."
Remy nodded, not trusting his voice as he hugged his father back.
"Now dis be worth celebratin' non?" Tante Mattie asked as she smiled and they moved into the house, laughing and talking happily and catching up on old times.
xoxoxoxoxoxox
Later that night however was not a happy experience as the group made their way through the cemetery to the plots of the LeBeau family. They had arrived on Matthew's sixth birthday and were going to pay homage to their son. Remy had his arms wrapped around Rogue, holding her up as he led her to their son's plot, white lilies clutched tightly in her hands as the rest of the LeBeau family followed close behind.
Mattie had made it a point to keep up the boy's grave since both his parents were forced away from it, keeping fresh flowers there and clearing away the cobwebs and dust. It still pained her every time she went out there. The thought of her favorite boy's son lying cold in the ground tore her heart up. Especially since he had been such a sweet child.
They all stopped at the entrance and Rogue and Remy turned to face them. "We'll wait here chil'," Mattie said, giving Rogue's arm a reassuring squeeze.
"Oui, jus' take y' time," Jean Luc added, patting Remy's back.
They both nodded before heading in, and going over to the sadly familiar grave. Rogue hadn't been there in years, but it seemed as nothing changed. As soon as she reached the foot of the grave, her legs collapsed beneath her and Remy had to catch her, easing her down to the soft earth as she wept openly and placed the flowers near the stone, tracing his name with her fingers as she always did in the danger room, feeling the cold marble beneath her skin. Remy held her as she leaned back and rested her head against his chest, sobbing quietly. Finally he decided to speak.
"Bonjour mon petite," he began, his voice quaking with unshed tears. "Y' be six years old t'day." He kissed his fingertips and held them against the stone, like he did everyday with his son's picture, silent tears falling down his face. "We miss y'."
Rogue nodded before getting enough of her voice back to speak. Pulling the old stuffed dog from her bag she placed it in front of her. "Ah still have Mr. Whiskers. Been takin' good care of him for ya sugah," she whispered, fresh tears coming to her eyes as she buried her head in Remy's neck. He rested his chin on her head and rocked back and forth, trying to sooth her.
It was then that a sugary sweet voice, dripping with venom interrupted their grief.
"How sweet, de deux o' y' came t' talk t' de little bastard," it cooed, causing the couple to freeze on the ground. "Still haven't realized he's where he belongs?"
"Belle," Rogue said icily, rising with Remy and turning to face the blonde Assassin, four years of hatred in her eyes.
"What be de matter chere? Non hug f' an old amie?" Belle asked, an evil smirk on her face as she held open her arms for Rogue, the knives visible on the belt of her sky blue dress, and Rogue knew those weren't the only weapons on her.
"Don' y' have any respect fer de dead Belladonna?" Remy spat at her, pulling a hand full of cards from his pocket, charging them as they emerged into the crisp night air.
"Why? Y' don't. How dare y' show yer worthless face here after what y' did to mon brother!" Belle growled, her face contorting with rage.
"Bettah then he deserved," Rogue replied, glaring at the girl before her. "Now let's talk about what ya did to mah son!"
"By all rights dat garcon shoulda been mahn Marie!" Belle bellowed, glaring at the girl. "Not dat of some worthless whore lahke y'."
"People in glass houses Belle," Rogue said as she moved away from Remy, clenching and unclenching her fist. "Especially since Ah ain't the one that was sleepin' with her brother."
Belle palled as she glared at Rogue. "Y' gonna die fer dat chere," she growled before launching herself at Rogue. Remy threw the cards but Belle managed to dodge, several of her flunkies moving from the bushes.
"Be careful," Rogue said before going after the blonde assassin, holding nothing back. She let Belle get in a few hits, marveling at the look of shock on the girls face when nothing phased Rogue. Next Belle took out the blades and watched in shock as they snapped against Rogue's skin. She could here Remy still fighting in the background and his family rushing towards them, so she took her time, savoring the moment. "What's a matter Belle? Nevah fought someone indestructible before?"
"No one's indestructible chere," Belle growled, taking out a pistol and firing at Rogue's chest.
Rogue's hand shot out and caught the bullet, dropping it harmlessly at her feet before launching into a roundhouse, kicking the gun from Belles hand. She followed through with another to the girl's stomach, knocking her back a good four feet and into a nearby tree. "Wanna play?" she almost growled, "Then we're gonna play by mah rules. You'll fahnd Ah'm much harder ta kill than a two year old boy!" she screamed at her and punched Belle hard in the jaw, knocking her head back.
The next hit Belle dodged, rolling out of the way and onto her feet, clutching her broken jaw. She followed through with several more hits that Rogue merely shrugged off before attacking Belle again, breaking the girl's leg and several ribs. Belle was panting by now and trying desperately to crawl away from Rogue with her one good arm, noting that her lackeys had left her and only the LeBeau's stood by, watching as Rogue moved in on her. "Y' kill meh now and dere be hell t' pay," Belle threatened, wincing in pain at her broken jaw, glaring at Jean Luc. "All de Thieves be t' blame!"
"Y' started dis Belle. 'Sides, dey non t' happy wit y' right now since y' père's mysterious death," Jean Luc said, glaring right back.
"Don' look lahke any one miss y' chere," Remy spat out, moving forward.
"Fahne, kill meh den. And y' nevah fahnd him," she glared directly into Rogue's eyes now.
"What y' talkin' about chienne?" Mercy spat, stepping up as well.
"De garcon. She knew when y' buried dat one. It non hers," Belle replied never taking her eyes from Rogues. "And only Ah know where he is."
"Where?" Remy asked, lunging forward and grabbing her by the collar, her dress beginning to glow dangerously.
"Ah tell y' if y' come back t' meh cher," she said, looking at him with crazy eyes. "We raise him together. Ah can be a bon mamma. And give y' a dozen more," she reached up her good hand to touch his cheek only to have him throw her back in disgust.
Rogue, who had been in shock at what she'd heard, took a step forward. "Ah don't need ya ta fahnd him," she whispered before taking Belle's head in both her hands. "Ah can do that on mah own," she whispered, kissing Belles forehead before snapping her neck with a loud pop.
The girl slumped down dead from Rogue's arms as Remy took Rogue by the shoulders, helping her to rise. "Come on cherie, we go home now," he said quietly, leading her towards the gates.
She paused and looked at Jean Luc, tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Non t' be sorry 'bout petite," he replied taking her and hugging her close. "De Assassin's be wit non leader now. Perhaps dis war can end now hahn?" he gave her a reassuring smile and kissed her head. "Now come, we go home."
xoxoxoxoxoxox
"Y' knew 'bout dis," Remy accused from the doorway of his fathers study as Jean Luc sat behind the desk, a glass of Bourbon in his hands.
"Dere were rumors," his father answered, taking a drink. "But we could nevah fahnd where she sent de boy."
"Why didn' y' tell moi?" Remy growled, walking across the rooms and slamming his hand down on his father's desk.
"Dey be rumors, non more. Ah could non git yer hopes up fer nothin'," he answered tiredly, looking his age for the first time to his youngest son. "Believe meh when Ah say dat Ah used every connection de Guild had t' try and fahnd him."
Remy nodded slowly before sinking into the chair in front of the desk and running his hands through his hair. He had seen his father with his son more than once, and knew the old man had loved the little boy as much as Remy himself did. "What y' do 'bout all dis?" Remy asked accepting the glass of Bourbon his father handed him gratefully.
"Already talked t' de Council o' de Assassin's. Dey been told what happened and dey searched her room. Found de proof dat she be de one killin' Marius. Dey see what Rogue done as justice and pursue it non further," Jean Luc replied. "De war, it seems be over now."
"Bon," Remy said taking a long drink.
"And y' mon fils? What y' do now?"
"She be on de phone wit de Professor now. Askin' him if he be able t' fahnd our fils."
"She tell him what she done?"
"Non. And he won' ask non-either. He'll know, but leave it alone," Remy replied looking at the glass for a long moment. "He be a bon homme. One o' de best."
"Bon."
They sat in silence for a long time before Remy looked up from his drink, desperation in his eyes. "What if what she say is true and he's alive? What if he non want us back or worse?" Remy asked, fresh pain washing over him. This was worse than burying him the first time.
Jean Luc came around the table and wrapped his arms around his son as he cried. "Dere, dere mon fils," he whispered trying to soothe Remy. "Odds are he misses y' as much as y' miss him, comprenez?" he took Remy's head in his hands and looked into his red on black eyes. "Now, y' and dat little fille in dere fahnd him and bring him home hahn?"
Remy nodded and rose, hugging his father tightly. "Merci papa," he said as they embraced before he released him. "Best go fahnd mon amore. We got plans t' make now."
"Oui," Jean Luc patted Remy's cheek before watching his son walk out of the room. Perhaps for the first time in four years this day would be a good one.
Authors Note: Ding-dong the bitch is dead. Which old bitch? The whorey bitch. Ding-dong the whorey bitch is dead! Okay, I wasn't going to kill her, but then got to thinking, why the hell not? Sorry this chapter is probably not as long as everyone wanted, but I dreaded writing it. Not because of killing Belle, because who would honestly hate that, but because of the accenting. Anyway, hope you enjoy and they're now that much closer to finding him right? R&R and no flames.