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.

Oh and just FYI, this story will be 20 chapters including the epilog, so we're not quite at the end yet folks. Oh and before I forget….

Ishandahalf – As usual, your review made me laugh a great deal. I just thought I would let you know that a prequel is something to think about…I will keep it in mind. Thanks for reviewing.

'Thoughts'

Flashbacks

Matthew

Chapter Eighteen: New Beginnings

Two weeks after Rogue's little announcement and Remy couldn't be happier. Xavier and he had agreed to have a work crew come in and level the land as well as pour the foundation and basement for the house and construction had started. His family had arrived at the beginning of the week and to make things even better, his brother and cousins were planning on staying, as well as Mercy, who had come off the plane three months pregnant, which she found out about just after they left New Orleans, and she hadn't wanted to tell them on the phone, letting it be a surprise when they arrived, to help with work on the house until the wedding in two months. They hoped that with all of them working along with Logan, Scott, Hank and the shop class at Xavier's; that they could get it done before the wedding.

He looked down at his feet, and the open planner that sat there and sighed. He had one busy two months ahead of him, that was for sure, what with school having started back up and Xavier having persuaded him to start teaching there. As well as Rogue's classes continuing. She would graduate that coming spring with a teaching degree. What made her happiest was the fact that the school she would be student teaching at was the same one Matthew was attending in the fifth grade classrooms, so she would be on the campus in case he needed her suddenly. And she had plans to continue on teaching at Xavier's, specializing in the younger students. Matty was still the youngest at age six, but they seemed to be getting younger everyday and the Professor was thinking of expanding the school even further.

Remy's smile broadened as he looked over at his son, who was laughing happily as Jean Luc swung him around in the air, a smile larger than Remy had seen in a long time gracing the older mans features. Everything seemed to finally be going his and Rogues way for a change, and nothing could make him happier.

"Well aren't y' de cat dat ate de canary petit frère?" Henry asked, elbowing Remy as he walked past him, setting down a pile of wood.

"Jus' happy mon frère," Remy replied with a laugh, running his hand through his hair.

"Bon," Henry smiled as well. "Non dat y' deserve it," he added with a wink, causing his younger brother to laugh.

"Non, don't guess dat Ah do," Remy agreed, watching as Matty began to come over, Jean Luc holding his hand. He bent down and held open his arms. "Come 'er petite," he said, as Matty ran into them, wrapping his own smaller ones around his dad's neck as Remy rose, hugging him tightly. "What y' think bout de house huh?" he asked, walking a bit away from the others to have a private moment with his son. He watched Matthews face closely as he answered.

"Its gonna be big," he said, looking over the foundation in excitement. "With stairs right daddy?"

"Oui, lots of stairs," Remy grinned at him, still watching him closely. For the past couple of weeks now he had felt a great amount of fear, uncertainty and sadness coming from his little son, and he was beginning to worry, as was his wife to be. Right now however though, noting but happiness washed from the boy, and that filled Remy's heart with joy. "And a big back yard fer y' and de babe."

Bingo. As soon as he mentioned the baby the little boys face fell and the uneasy emotions returned. "Yeah I guess."

"Y' non happy 'bout de babe petite?" Remy asked, having been suspicious that this was the cause for some time now. He moved farther away from the men working and sat down on top of a picnic table near by, gathering Matthew into his arms.

"No I'm happy, it's just…" he paused as if trying to collect his thoughts. "What if you love the new baby more than me?"

"Dat non possible petite," Remy shook his head, wrapping his arms around the little boy who rested in his lap. "Dere be non one we love more den y'. We jus' love de babe de same comprenez?"

"I guess," he mumbled playing with the hem of his shirtsleeve.

"Non, non guess," Remy squeezed him tighter, almost wishing he could will him to understand.

"What's goin' on here?" a smooth voice asked and they both turned to see Rogue ambling over to them, a pale yellow sundress flowing softly around her frame.

"Bonjour cherie," Remy smiled at her, taking the hand she offered and kissed it softly before snaking an arm about her waist and pulling her to sit next to him. "Our little petite here be thinkin' we love de babe more den him."

"What?' Rogue looked alarmed before she reached out. "Give him ta meh," she said, reaching over and taking him into her lap, smothering him in a hug. "How could mah perfect little boy evah think that?' she asked before smothering him in kisses. "Ah could nevah love anyone bettah than ya. Not even yer daddy."

"Hey!" Remy sounded slightly hurt, but the mischief was evident in his eyes, as well as by the smirk on his face.

"Face it sugah," she pulled back and winked at her fiancé. "Yer second best in mah heart," she smiled down at her son, kissing him again before she began to tickle him mercilessly, Remy soon joining her.

"Okay! Okay!" he laughed, at the mercy of both his parents. "I understand."

"Bon," Remy took him back into his lap and kissed the top of his head.

"And you jus' remember sugah," Rogue took his chin in her hand and gazed directly into his eyes. "If ya evah think that we're not payin' enough attention ta ya, ya jus' tell us alright?"

"Okay," he nodded slowly, reaching his arms around his mother's neck and hugging her tightly, kissing her cheek. "Can I go play with Cousin Emil now?"

"Oui," Remy ruffled his hair, smiling as Matthew leaned over to place a small kiss on his mothers still flat belly before running over to his cousins, becoming the immediate center of attention. "He be a bon garcon non?" Remy asked, wrapping an arm around Rogue's shoulders.

"Oui," Rogue said with a smile, resting her head on his shoulder. "He's perfect."

xoxoxoxoxoxox

Logan was working on his bike out in the garage when Jean walked in, her black heels clicking against the concrete floor, a black skirt and lavender button up silk shirt hugging her body, her hair pulled up into a French twist. Logan glanced up at her, in nothing but a pair of faded blue jeans, a cigar hanging between his lips, before looking back to his bike, trying to ignore how beautiful she looked in that moment as she had her eyes trained on him.

"Hello Logan," she said, coming to a stop directly in front of the bike, wringing her hands a bit as she watched him.

"Jean," he nodded at her, reaching over for a different size wrench. "How's the memory today?"

"Better," she sighed, trying to dispel the shaking in her voice. "I'm remembering a bit more everyday. And the Professor is helping me to use it to control the Phoenix."

"Good to know," he threw the wrench down and reached for the socket, focusing on his carburetor. "Scott must be happy."

"Yeah, he is," she sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. "Look, I remembered something weird today, and you're the only one I can talk to about it."

"Really? And what would that be?" he looked up at her then, their eyes locking together.

"Did we ever kiss?" she asked, deciding to cut to the chase.

He looked at her for a moment, keeping his face impassive before looking back down to his bike, resuming his work. "Yeah, we did."

She looked confusedly at him. "Dose Scott know?"

"Only if he's the psychic now," he answered, clamping down harder on the cigar, trying to control his breathing.

"Were we having an affair?" the question was asked just above a whisper, and if it hadn't been for his super sensitive hearing, he probably would have never heard it.

He sighed and threw down the wrench, reaching over and grabbing a dirty rag, wiping his hands as he rose. "Listen Jean…" he began only to be cut off.

"I need to know, please," her eyes were pleading as she gazed at him, an edge to her voice.

He sighed and looked down into her deep green eyes. "No. No we weren't," he looked away for a long moment before looking back at her. "You chose him."

They looked at each other for a long moment before she nodded slowly. "Thank you Logan," she said softly, turning to walk out of the garage, a heavy weight lifted off her heart, leaving him alone with his bike.

xoxoxoxoxoxox

The Professor was sitting at his desk, grading papers for his physics class when a knock sounded on his door. Doing a quick scan he smiled slightly before calling out, "Come in Mr. Drake."

The door opened and Bobby stepped into the room, looking anxiously about. "Hey Professor, can we talk?"

"Of course, please sit down," Charles moved the papers aside and settled a warm gaze on the boy. "What seems to be troubling you?"

Bobby sank into the chair, his hands drumming on his knees while he tried to decide how the best way was to approach the subject. "Well…I was just thinking…I need to leave Professor."

"Pardon?" Charles looked at him in alarm. While he knew that Robert was not taking Rogue and Remy's growing family the best, he did think the young man had begun to make progress. "Why do you think you should leave us Mr. Drake?"

Bobby sighed, looking down at the desk before directly into Xavier's eyes. "Because I'm not happy here any more. I need to get away. And besides, I've met someone, her name is Lorna, and she's a mutant, like us. When I'm with her, it feels right and I'm happy, but then I come back here and see Rogue and…" he paused, sighing and bringing his hands together, twirling his thumbs around each other, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees he looked back down at his shoes. "I just think it would be easier if I wasn't here anymore."

Charles nodded in understanding. "Of course Robert, it is whatever you think is best. No one here will force you to stay. But it is important that you know that if you ever desire to, you will always have a home here."

Bobby nodded and rose, reaching out for Xavier's extended hand. "Thank you Professor."

"Now tell me, when do you plan on leaving us?" Charles asked before he could go.

"Tomorrow. I'm almost packed now," Bobby answered, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"That does not give us time to prepare a proper send off," Charles mused.

"I know. I don't want one," Bobby looked back at the floor before nervously running a hand through his hair. "Thanks for everything Professor."

"Be happy Robert, and be careful," Charles smiled at him, nodding slowly.

"I will Professor, thank you," Bobby said, turning and leaving the Professor alone in his office.

xoxoxoxoxoxox

Logan let out another growl, slicing through a large oak tree with his adamantium claws, easing his frustrations out on the firewood he was collecting. The tree landed with a loud thud, shaking the ground around him as he glared at it, breathing heavily, sweat dripping from his chest.

"Watcha doin?" a voice asked behind him, and Logan whirled to see Matthew LeBeau standing there, a proud smirk similar to the one his father often wore plastered on his face.

"How'd you sneak up on me kid?" Logan asked him, raising an eyebrow. He'd never heard him coming, which wasn't a surprise considering the tree had been falling at the time, but he should have been able to smell him coming, especially since he was traveling down wind.

"My power," the boy said proudly, walking over, creating a force field around himself as he did. "See? Uncle Beast said I could even sneak up on you with it, so I thought I'd try," he grinned letting the red shield dissipate as he tried to crawl up on the oak. Logan watched him for a moment before lifting him up and setting him down on it, the young boy bowing his head in thanks before sitting cross-legged on the trunk. "Why are you so sad Uncle Wolvie?" he asked a serious look on his face as he rested his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands, ready to listen.

"What makes ya think somethin's wrong kid?" Logan asked with a snort. "And don't call me that again," he added almost as a side note as he began chopping at the far end of the tree trunk.

"Professor Xavier says I got my daddy's empathy. I can feel how sad you are," he stated. "And I like Uncle Wolvie," he added with a smile, the same one Logan could never say no to when his mother used it. "Now spill."

"It's complicated," Logan sighed, giving up on the log and settling down next to him. "What are you doing out here anyway? I thought your mom didn't let you out of her sight?"

"Her, Tante Mattie and Tante Mercy are looking at baby magazines," Matthew shrugged, a bored expression on his face. "So why are you sad?'

Logan looked at him for a long moment, seeing just as much of Rogue in him as he saw Remy and sighed. "Just feelin' lonely kid," he said after a moment, figuring he might as well open up to the little bugger.

"That's sad," Matty said, his face drooping a bit. Suddenly he smiled broadly. "Hey, you don't have to be lonely!"

"Really? And why's that?" Logan looked hard at him, barely suppressing the smile at how bright Matthew's face lit up.

"Cause, I can be your friend," Matty stated, a triumphant gleam in his eyes. "That is if you want me to," he added as almost a side note, looking somewhat scared of what the gruff man would say.

Logan regarded him for a long moment, everything falling into place. Rogue was gone forever, and it didn't look like he had any better a chance with Jean now than he did before she had died. Maybe it was time to move on. And maybe the short little midget was just the friend he needed. Crossing his arms over his chest he rubbed his chin for a few moments in mock contemplation. "You know something," he said after a moment, a grin appearing on his face. "You're right kid."

Matty gleamed, one of his favorite hero's agreeing to be his new friend, what more could a six year old ask for. "Yeah?"

"Yeah. Now come on, lets go get something to drink," Logan rose and lifted Matty onto his shoulders, a new feeling of peace and an anticipation of new beginnings settling over his heart as they walked happily towards the mansion.

Authors Note: Too corny? I hope not. Let me know what you think. R & R and no flames. Only 2 chapters left.