Recap: Some of the X-Men have taken a vacation to a large cabin Xavier owns in North Carolina. Rogue and Remy went into town for supplies and ran into a bit of trouble with some locals. Later that evening, they are again attacked by men with guns and inhibitor collars. Rogue is taken prisoner and Remy is left for dead. The other X-Men find him and go after Rogue. Finally, and with quite a bit of trouble, the X-Men find Rogue, but it's too late. Carly, a woman who has hated Rogue for years for the murder of her brother, causes Rogue's power to haywire and she basically goes crazy with power overload and causes the building to collapse. The X-Men are too late to save her from the crumbling building. They take her broken body back to the mansion and soon discover that her mind has been "destroyed". Months later, Psylocke helps "heal" Rogue's mind...
The X-Men ain't mine.
Somebody Else's Song - Chapter 14
"How do you feel today, Miss Rogue?" Beast peered at her over the silver rims of his eyeglasses.
"Like Ah'm gonna explode if Ah don't get outta here," the girl responded without a smile. She was getting better. She had even started walking on her own - under Gambit's watchful eye. But her mood swings were getting worse.
She heard a chuckle come from the doorway and turned her attention to Logan.
"What's so damn funny, Shorty?"
Wolverine continued to grin, "Nothin' darlin'. But the way you've been actin' lately, yer startin' to remind me of me."
"Well, it appears that is all about to change," Beast commented as her finished writing something on his clipboard, "I am releasing you into Mr. LeBeau's care."
"You sure about that, Hank?" Logan cut in before Rogue could respond, "I mean, maybe you should keep her here a few more days...just to be on the safe side." He grinned at Rogue who glared back at him.
"You better shut up if ya know what's good for you."
"Okay, kid. Whatever you say. I'll go get the Cajun Boy Wonder," Wolverine walked out chuckling.
"So am Ah better, Hank?"
"You are definitely getting there. Your legs aren't as strong as I'd like, but I think you would recuperate better outside of the Med Lab."
xxxx
"That's why I couldn't make peace with her death? Because somewhere in my mind I knew she was okay?" Betsy digested the Professor's hypothesis.
"It makes sense," Jean commented from her seat across the room, "You were so distant and distracted while Rogue was unconscious."
"We may never truly know how this happened. Just like we may never know exactly what was done to Rogue to negate her powers. Or what has caused their prolonged absence," Charles admitted.
"Well, the not-knowing is infinitely better than the alternative," Beast interrupted as he stepped into the Professor's office, "Especially since today I am releasing Rogue from the Med Lab."
"Thank goodness," Xavier smiled, "Does Remy know?"
"Logan went to get him. I think the two of them are going to help her get settled in her old room. Then I'm going to give her one more formal check-up and the rest of her recovery should go fairly quickly with only minor intervention by yours truly."
"Hank? Could you meet me down in the Med Lab after you finish up with Rogue? I have a favor to ask."
"Anything for you, Jean."
xxxx
"Hey, Gumbo!" Logan called out as he surveyed the large, hot gymnasium. Cyclops and Cannonball stopped their sparing exercise and looked over from their place in the boxing ring. Logan made his way over to them through the sweaty students and instructors. He hated the gym. A keen sense of smell was not always a blessing.
"Ah think he's in the Danger Room, Wolverine," Sam wiped the sweat from his face with a towel while Scott took a long swig of blue Gatorade. "Whadda ya need him for?" He motioned for Scott to hand over the beverage.
"Come and get it," Scott said almost playfully. Sam and Logan regarded him strangely. "What?"
"Yer in an awful good mood..." Logan ventured.
"So?"
"You're never in a good mood," Sam stated.
Scott shrugged, "Well, it's been a good couple of weeks. Rogue woke up, the students are doing amazing in their introductory Danger Room sessions, my wife is pregnant---"
"What?!" Logan and Sam interrupted him in unison.
Scott smiled and tossed Sam the Gatorade, "Drink up. I'm ready to go again." He slipped his mouthpiece back in and started punching at the air.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Slim. You can't just drop a bomb like that and expect us to go on about our business."
"Yea. I mean when did y'all find out? How far along is she?"
"Not so loud," Scott removed his mouthpiece again. "We found out two days ago and she's about six weeks along. Can we box now?" Cyclops continued to grin widely as he looked around to make sure none of the gym's other inhabitants were paying them any attention.
"No, we cain't box now!" Sam grabbed Scott in a hug, "Congratulations!"
Cyclops smiled and patted his back, "Thank you."
Logan pulled himself up to the other men using the boxing ring's ropes and extended his hand. Scott regarded him for a split second before removing his glove and clasping his teammate's hand.
"Congrats, Slim. I mean it."
"Thanks," he nodded.
"Next round at Harry's is on me."
Again, Scott nodded before releasing Logan's hand.
"Well, uh, I'm gonna go find Gambit," Wolverine stepped back down to the floor and started to walk away.
"Hey Logan!"
"Yea, Slim?"
"Jean wants this kept quiet for a little while longer..."
"No problem." Not like I really want to go tell the world that Jeannie's havin' your kid.
Logan left the gym and headed toward the Danger Room.
xxxx
Gambit threw the kinetically charged eight of clubs at the soldiers as they came racing towards him, guns drawn. He grinned as they were blown away from him in pieces. Suddenly, the forest around him disappeared along with the pieces of his enemies. He turned to look toward the observation room. Logan was standing at the controls.
"Why don't you give those boys a break and come up here, Remy? Got some good news for ya."
xxxx
Logan smiled as he headed towards the kitchen. The words of Rogue's release had barley left his mouth before Gambit was sprinting towards the Med Lab with a stupid grin plastered across his face.
"What are you smiling about?"
Logan turned to see Jean coming out of the Professor's office.
His smile died instantly, "Hank just released Rogue."
"I heard," she smiled and stepped towards him. "It's wonderful for her and Gambit. They love each other very much."
"Yea," Logan looked away uncomfortably. He really didn't want to be alone with Jean right now considering the news that Scott had just shared. "Look Jean, I got somewhere to be. I'll see ya around." He turned and started walking in the opposite direction.
"Is everything alright?"
"Everything's great, Red," he called back.
"Are you angry with me, Logan?"
He turned back around to face her.
"It's just that you're broadcasting quite a bit of hostility and you just don't seem too eager to talk to me."
Logan sighed. It was wrong to act like this towards her. She had a right to have children with her husband. He turned back around to face her. He saw the concern for him shining in her beautiful eyes and he hung his head. No, he couldn't begrudge her children. Even if they were Scooter's.
"What's wrong?" she stepped toward him and placed her smooth palm against his stubbled cheek and forced him to look at her.
"Scott told me the news."
Her hand left his face and she took a step away from him, "Oh."
"I'm sorry---"
"What have you got to be sorry for?"
"---that you didn't hear it from me."
Logan stared at the floor as an uncomfortable silence claimed them.
"Look. I'm happy for you. I can tell this is what you want. Yer practically glowin'."
She blushed and smiled slightly at him, "Thank you."
Logan nodded and walked away. He swore he saw tears in her eyes.
xxxx
"Jean and I have an announcement to make," Scott called everyone's attention. The dinner table, for once, grew quiet as Scott took Jean's hand and they stood. Jean was smiling widely. She took in the sight before her. Her family looked back at her expectantly. Except one. Logan had gone out for the evening. Her smile faltered for a moment but then she caught site of Rogue and Remy. He was cradling her bare hand in his own.
"Go ahead hon. Tell everyone our news," Scott whispered, interrupting her thoughts.
"Unable to keep her excitement in any longer, Jean practically shouted, "I'm pregnant!"
xxxx
"Well that was somethin' else," Rogue smiled as she settled onto her bed. The excitement of the evening had exhausted her, "Ah'm so happy for them."
"Me too," Remy moved to lay behind her and wrap and arm around her waist. They lay spooned together for a few moments enjoying their newfound closeness before Rogue spoke again.
"Remy, Ah know Ah've asked you this before...and yer answer probably ain't changed..."
She felt him smile behind her, "What you wanna ask me petite?"
"Do you ever think about gettin' married? Maybe havin' kids?"
Remy swallowed and sat up.
Uh-oh. Way ta go big-mouth. Rogue silently chided herself.
"To be honest wit' you Chere. I haven't thought much about kids."
Rogue sat up and turned to look at him.
"Marriage on de other hand..." he got up and walked to the door, "I'll be right back."
Rogue sat on the edge of her bed, her feet dangling. Remy returned a few minutes later and closed the door behind him. He knelt in front of her on the floor.
"I wanted dis to be perfect, Rogue," He took her hands in his. "I wanted to take you to some fancy restaurant an' order champagne. I even had dis long eloquent speech planned. Unfortunately since I'm scared outta my mind right now, I forgot most of de t'ings I wanted to say. Except dis: I love you Rogue."
"Ah love you, too," she whispered.
He smiled up at her, "But we ain't at a fancy restaurant and we don' have any champagne. But I do have dis." He reached into the pocket of his shorts and produced a black velvet box. "And it's here and so am I and I love you Rogue, more dan I ever thought it would be possible to love another human being. Please," he opened the box to reveal a diamond ring, "Please be my wife."
"Oh Remy," she breathed, throwing her hands around his neck. "Yes! God, yes, Ah'll marry you!" They held each other for as long as Rogue could stand it. She finally pulled away. "Ah want ta try it on."
"Of course," he took the ring out of the box, "But I know for a fact dat it fits."
He slipped the golden ring onto her finger. It was, as he said, a perfect fit.
"Oh, Remy...Oh mah...it's beautiful! How did ya know mah size?"
He looked away, "Honestly? I guessed. But I knew it would fit. I musta slipped it on your finger a hundred times while you were in dat coma."
She looked at him, awestruck by the love she felt for this man.
"Ah cain't wait to be your wife," she kissed his lips gently.
"Are you sure you like it Rogue? I mean, we can get you a bigger diamond. I just thought that you'd like dis one. It's not too gaudy---"
"Shush," she placed a finger to his lips. "Ah love it. And I love you."
"I love you, too, mon amour."
