A/N: When we originally wrote this, there was a very graphic sex scene. As we can't post that, I tried to tone it down to R. I think I did pretty well. {grin} The sex scene is still there though, so if m/m sex bothers you, stop reading once they leave the library.

Several weeks had passed since that night when Warren had been dragged out of the house and into the city. Since then, they had settled into a comfortable routine. Meals together, unless Remy had a Guild meeting that kept him away. At least three times a week they would go out and enjoy the city. A movie one night, a club another or dinner. Even a few museums. If Remy had to leave the house for extended periods, then Tante Mattie would come and stay so Warren was never totally alone. Often, Warren would help with the home improvements even though it would mean several hours of wing cleanup.

Warren had, in his solitary time, finished rereading the Shakespeare collection Remy kept in his library and had started in on Tennyson. Instead of hiding his interests behind the veneer of the airhead playboy he felt confident enough to read where Remy and Tante could see him and comment. He'd also, since that first breakthrough when he'd cried on Remy's shoulder, become much more comfortable with the Cajun, allowing him in behind shields that Warren had never dropped to anyone but Candy.

Remy, for his part, was finding that he was enjoying Warren's presence even when he was off in another room working. He was a bit surprised to find that Warren had actually read the Shakespeare and then felt a guilt pang. Like a lot of people he had assumed Warren was only interested in the pursuit of pleasure. So to make up for it, he had left little gifts for Warren to find. A book, or a video of a Shakespearean play. He was enjoying having someone to spoil. Tante had noticed it as well and just smiled to herself when she saw them together. Remy needed someone in his life who would accept what he had to offer, and Warren seemed to need someone to really care for him.

At night, Warren slept curled up next to Remy, his head on Remy's shoulder, and Remy's arm wrapped reassuringly around him. The few nights that Remy had to be away, Warren woke up screaming with a nightmare. In his mind the specters of all his past tormentors, Cameron, Apocalypse, Sauron, Callisto, and even Betsy sometimes, took turns or joined together to torture him. When he would wake up screaming, Tante would come in and stay with him until he calmed down and realized he was safe. But even that much Remy and Tante recognized as progress. Warren had confided that he'd trained himself to wake in silence. The fact that he screamed out meant he felt he could let others behind his defenses.

***

At the Guild meeting, Remy kept thinking about the situation at home instead of listening to the monthly reports. He liked having Warren around and found that he wasn't feeling so alone anymore. Now, instead of selling the house, he was considering keeping it. He had forgotten how much he enjoyed simply having someone close, someone to talk to besides Tante or himself. Like Warren, Remy had hidden his intelligence behind a mask. Everyone expected the charmer, the loner and it was simply easier to carry on the charade rather than change it. Besides, who would have believed it? Especially after that excuse for a trial. But Warren had changed that and he found that he wanted more. Watching Warren in his usual spot in the library, Remy smiled at the scene. Yes, this was the right thing; he just hoped Warren would agree.

Warren was reading Tennyson this time. Remy had to smile as he leaned in the doorway, just watching for a few minutes. All through the meeting that night, he had found his thoughts constantly straying to home...and Warren. He was enjoying the routine they had now, the big house seeming more like a home. He was honored that Warren had let him in behind his walls, and he had found himself dropping his own. How alike they were in so many ways.

Warren noticed Remy's presence, just sensing him in the doorway, watching Warren read. He smiled and put the book in his lap. "Got another home project you need help on?"

"Actually not tonight. Meeting was way too long and dey always wear me out. Why Poppa named me Patriarch I don' know. Like pullin' teeth sometimes ta get anyone t'do anythin'. Sure ya know how dat is, neh?" He moved to sit down across from Warren, trying to figure out how to ask his question so he wouldn't spook the other man. "What is it tonight?" he asked, indicating the book.

Warren held it up. The cover had a beautiful illustration of some chivalrous lord courting a fair lady. "Idylls of the King. And yeah, I know how you feel. But we were groomed to take over for our fathers. You know, I never really thought about it before. I mean, we never talked much. But we have a lot in common don't we?"

"Funny ya should say dat. Came t'dat realization myself. My problem though, is dat a lot of de Guild... de older ones don' t'ink I deserve it because Poppa adopted me. Henri was his blood son, and now he gone, it goes t'me." He paused a moment. "Can I ask you something? Are you happy now?"

The corner of Warren's mouth quirked further up and laughter lit his eyes. "You mean now? Here with you? Yes. Yes, I am happy."

Remy smiled himself. "Bien you deserve it. Umm... I was... thinkin'. Originally, I was gonna sell dis place. Bought it when I got married. Well, before... but never lived in it because I got banished. Since you came though, it started feelin'... like a home."

Warren looked a little shocked and then thoughtful. He stared at the bookshelves for a few moments before turning his gaze back towards Remy. "You know, you're right. Like...before I went off to boarding school or the first year or so at the mansion."

"Umm...I know we ain't.. always been close till recently, but...I like youa lot. I find dat I don' wanna leave de house wit'out you. I love wakin' up wit' you. I feel... safe again. First time in a long time." He was taking a huge risk and was praying he wasn't spooking Warren.

Warren stared up at Remy, emotions warring with themselves in his eyes. He swallowed, "I think you'd better sit down while we talk about this. It's going to take too long for me to keep craning my neck to look at you." After Remy had taken the chair next to him, Warren curled his legs under him and thought for a moment, weighing his own reactions, testing them. "You're saying that you, what? Like me as a really good friend? Want me?" His voice dropped to a whisper, he could scarcely believe he was saying this. "Love me?"

Remy nodded. "All t'ree. I've come to see you as a friend... one dat I love. And want you... Warren, who wouldn't? But, I don' jus' want your body. If I did, I wouldn't have stopped you dat night. I would have taken what you offered. I am many things Ange, but I ain' someone dat takes advantage of another. I want to love you like ya deserve. I want t'spoil youwake up wit' you..."

Warren almost bit his lip before he stopped himself. His eyes were suspiciously moist. "I like you, Remy, a lot. I like spending time with you, even if we don't actually do anything. I like falling alseep with you next to me and waking up the same way. I think I might love you. But I'm not too sure of what love is. I mean, I thought I loved Cameron. Maybe I did. But this doesn't feel like that. This feels...like when I was with Candy!" He said that last as if it were a revelation.

Remy smiled softly. "I ain't in any hurry. Don' wanna push you, and I won't. I want you to feel safe wit' me. I want you to feel like you can be you. Whoever dat homme is. I don' care what ya look like or if we do nothing but hold each other. Actually, ya wanna know de truth... reminds me of how I was wit' Belle." He smiled softly at the memory of his former wife.

Warren licked his lips, "I think...I think I'd like to explore this. And for the record? I want you too. You're a very handsome man, Remy." He smiled, one of those smiles he used when flirting, when seducing, when being pleasing for others. "Very sexy."

Remy grinned back with a flirtatious smile of his own. "Got nothin' on you Ange. And I already know you kiss better den anyone I know. But seriously? I don' want you thinkin' ya have t'do anythin' you don' want to. I won't force you. I want Warren Ange not de mask."

Warren's face was slightly shadowed as his smile died a little. "This is me. Remy, I'm a flirt and I like sex. It's part of what kept getting me into trouble with Cameron. He was always so jealous. And Dr. Samson had a hell of a time convincing me that...that whenever I was...was raped, that it wasn't my fault, for flirting, for being a tease." He swallowed and looked down at his hands and then at Remy, pleading with his eyes for the Cajun to understand. "But I like to please people. I...I want to please you!"

Remy gently stroked Warren's cheek. "Shh Jus'...I ain't dem. I ain't gonna force ya. If you say no one night, it's ok. I'm not gonna care any less about you. I like you. You. Not your looks, not your money, just you. Do ya understand? I like sex too. It was... beyond frustrating not being able t'touch Rogue. You really wanna please meden tell me what you want too. Kay?"

Warren smiled again, this time tremulously but it was enchanting, lighting up his face. "I...like a lot of things. I'm very good at it." His cheeks colored a slight purple as he said this. "I just...don't like pain. And my wings forbid a few positions but that's easy to get around." And he knew, somewhere in the back of his mind, that he'd say no to Remy at some point just to test him, to see if he'd stop. But not just yet. Right now he wanted to hold on and never let go.

"Den we won' do things dat hurt. Not crazy bout pain either myself. We'll find what works for both of us ok? If it's not right for both den we try somethin' else." He watched Warren smile. "I love when you smile. I'll have to do what I can to keep it coming around no? Hmm? Spoil you rotten I think."

Warren laughed, a silvery sound of delight with no shadows tingeing the depths. "I like your little presents. I like it when you make me feel wanted. Like you want me with you for more than just..." he trailed off and looked away again, haunted shadows in his eyes. "I'm so broken, Remy. I have so many memories I can't banish." He touched Remy's cheek lightly, lovingly. "Help me make new ones?"

"We'll make dem together, yah. Got a few ghosts of my own, and bout time dey stopped rulin' my life. And yours. Broken don' mean shattered. And...I t'ink you beautiful Ange. Speakin' of new memories, I was gonna sell de house, but since you came into my life I was thinkin. bout keepin. it. But I bought dis for me and Belle. She never stepped foot in it though. Would youwant to stay here, or should we look for something else?"

"I like this house." Warren chuckled, "I love it. It's gorgeous and comfortable and this is where you started to heal me."

"Den we stay. You want to move into my room? A room dat neither of us slept in? Yours?" He was letting Warren call the shots, hoping it would build his confidence and be a small step in the healing. "We'll decorate however you want. If you want to bring some things into it... well, I want you to feel like it's yours too." He smiled ad wrapped an arm around Warren's shoulders, gently pulling him close.

"How about...a new room? One that isn't mine or yours. Ours. We sleep there together and make...love and decorate."

"I like dat idea. Hmmshall we go find one? I t'ink I know one you might like. Lots of windows, a small balcony. Gets lots of light. We can get a new bed anything else you'd want dat isn't here so far?"

Warren shook his head, "We can figure that out later. And get a new bed tomorrow. Right now, whatever one we fall into is fine. But I definitely like the sound of a balcony. It's why I like penthouses. Oh, sure, they show off my wealth, but they're right up there in the sky..." His voice had taken on a dreamy quality.

Remy smiled again, his fingers playing with Warren's hair. "Den when we go anywhere we'll make sure we have a balcony. And we can go t'de swamps t'fly. Anything you want Ange."

"Right now, I want you." Warren kissed Remy hard, passionately, but with a promise of more to come. He pulled away, leaving Remy breathless, "Now where's this room?"

Remy grinned and stood up, holding a hand out to Warren. He led the way, making sure to stay as close as he could, taking time to kiss, and caress, but only with Warren's encouragement. The room was wide and spacious, the balcony large enough for a small table and chair set. The room was bathed in moonlight, the only sounds being the sounds of crickets and the occasional owl. The room was empty at the moment, uncarpeted, and with plain white walls. "What you t'ink Ange?"

"It has potential. We'll get to it tomorrow. But right now, we need a bed." Warren nipped at Remy's ear and then moved on to his throat. He was indeed, very skilled. "But I love the balcony and it's so airy. Thank you."

Remy instinctively arched his neck back, giving Warren better access. Warren was very, very good at this and it had been so long. "Bed good..." Part of him wanted to stop, part of him wanted Warren right there and now. "Ange, you sure?" His voice was low, and smoky sounding. "You don' have to...if you don'thmmm..." the rest was lost as Warren moved to a sensitive spot on his throat.

Warren grinned to himself at Remy's reaction. "I want to do this, Remy. If anything happens I don't like, I'll let you know. I promise, alright?" He started moving them down the hall to the room they'd been sleeping in previously. He shut the door with his foot, his hands and mouth still locked onto Remy. Then maneuvered them to the bed.

Remy wanted to taste Warren, so he moved Warren's face up so he could capture his mouth and explore. Agile hands moved beneath the shirt, tracing muscle and skin. He hadn't felt this good sinceBelle. But Warren was so much better tasting.

Warren returned the kiss with fervor, his tongue exploring Remy's lush mouth. At the same time, he began to remove clothing, both his and Remy's. Slowly, so as not to get anything tangled enough that they'd have to stop to get unstuck. When the shirts were off, he tossed them over his head and started on the pants, his hands cupping the bulge in Remy's and caressing it.

Remy groaned as Warren touched him. He had been hard with the first kiss and was almost in pain now. He helped Warren remove the last of the barriers between them, moving his mouth to Warren's neck then throat. "You beautiful Ange. tell me what you want." He whispered as he worked his way to Warren's collarbone.

Warren ground his erection against Remy's hip and moaned, even as he licked and nipped Remy's cheekbone. "You. I want you. Inside me. Remy, please."

He smiled to himself, happy that Warren had expressed a desire. He wanted to make the experience good for Warren as well as for himself. Gently, he moved so Warren was now on the bed on his back, his wings flayed out beneath him, their flexibility astounding. In the moonlight, Warren looked some Greek god come alive. Remy took time to admire and enjoy. Bringing his mouth to Warren's ear, he whispered that he would be right back, he had to get something before he could fulfil the request. A moment later and he returned with some lube. He kissed and suckled as he prepared his lover.

Warren gasped and shuddered in pleasure, His wings fluttered under him and he rolled over, careful not to dislodge Remy. The wings, freed, beat his pleasure in the air, tickling against Remy's sides, demanding their own turn to play.

Remy smiled and with his free hand, he played gently with the wings, lingering when he found a sensitive spot. Warren writhed in pleasure. His wings were very sensitive, a rather major erogenous zone, so when Remy stroked them as well as moving rhythmically inside him, it was almost too much stimulation. Warren had come a few times just from having his wings stroked and he wondered for a fleeting moment if Remy would want to try that. Then all thought left him as Remy set the rhythm and Warren arched his back to meet it.

"Guess you like dat hmm." The wings were a new element, and he found that he liked how they seemed alive. The pace got faster and Remy had to hold onto Warren's hips to keep his balance. Pleasure racked Remy's body as he came inside Warren. As soon as he did though, he felt remorse that he had come so fast. "Ange, I'm sorry wanted you t'come first, but... guess been too long. I'm sorry."

Warren sighed in pleasure. "Not a problem, Remy. I like it when you come in me. As for me, just keep doing what you were doing to my wings. It feels wonderful!"

"Still you should have next time den." Reluctantly, Remy pulled out and stroked the wings again. "Soft can't t'ink of any other word even though dat don' do dem justice. Dey were soalive. Dey always like at?'

Warren bucked into the bed at Remy's touch. He panted, "Yeah, sometimes it's like...they've got a mind of their own." He thrust a few more times and then shuddered as he came, coating the bed with his seed. He breathed heavily for a little, "Thank you. That waswonderful."

"You welcome. Least learned one thing you like, no?" Remy felt good, whole, satedand tired. "Looks like we made a mess though, no? Should change de sheets and all, less we stick togethernot dat dat would be bad." Playfully he kissed Warren's neck while playing with a loose feather.

Warren shifted off the wet spot he'd created. "Yeah, changing the sheets is a good idea. And it was two things. Or several, depending on how you look at it. You're a great kisser."

"So are you. You had me wit' de first kiss. I'll go get de sheets and some towels. You chere... stay." With one last kiss, this one a gentle one on the lips, Remy left to find sheets and something to clean them both up with. He returned with a wet wash rag and a towel as well as the sheets. "Let me," he said before cleaning Warren. He then replaced the soiled sheets, throwing them into a corner for the moment. Settling into bed, he pulled Warren close, laying Warren's head on his shoulder. "I know for sure... J'Taime."

Warren smiled sleepily, "I love you too."

"Sleep well Ange." And a moment later, Remy was asleep.

"How could I not with you beside me?' Warren whispered back and cuddled up to his new lover, falling asleep himself in little time.