A/N: Sorry for the late update. Unfortunately during my trip, the disk containing Consequential Circumstance got messed up, along with some really important things, and I left the backup in Indiana. I was hoping to get it sorted out before posting so I could put up Chapter 1, but it's not going well. Combine that with a new schedule/job and I'm not sure when I'll be able to post again. So, until further notice, this is my last post/story. Hopefully, I'll be back shortly, but just in case, I didn't want to leave anyone wondering. So, without further ado, here's the last chapter to Toxic Hope. Thanks to everyone who's been reading my fics! Enjoy!
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Mouthing 'I love you', Rogue found the release of pent up adoration she had for her husband. When he whispered '', the feelings returned tenfold.

"This is real."

"Quoi?"

"I don't want to talk about it right now, but one of Toxic's created memories was me having to say good-bye to you…"

She couldn't bear to tell him yet what happened. After her close call and the freshness of her emotions from the incident, she didn't much feel like telling him he died in Toxic's manipulations.

"…Anyway, in the memory you told me there was real and fake in the world. At the end, I heard you say 'it's not real, don't believe it.'"

"Oui, I said dat when Jeannie realized what dat salope folle did t' y'."

"You did?"

Looking straight into his eyes, she wanted to let go and fall helplessly into the dusky depths. The intensity of his love for her kept her gaze firmly locked with his. Finally realizing Remy must have been going through the same worry and fears she had experienced in the false memories, Rogue appreciated with infinite graciousness the strength of the bond between them. Breaking away, she turned her attention to their entwined hands as she gently ran her fingers over his knuckles. A brief pause hung in the air before she continued.

"After I heard that, I told myself you were wrong and the whole thing was really happening. I kept saying it over and over in my head, but I didn't believe it. And you kept telling me not to let go, right?"

"Non, p'tit. When I fin'lly was able t' get t' y', it was th' last t'ing y' said t' me b'fore passin' out."

"That explains why you were talking with my accent at least. She tired to use you against me. Guess she didn't think that you would always be there to save me."

Remy rose from his seat so he could be closer to Rogue. Since they no longer had an audience they could freely express their affection. He reached out to brush a strand of hair away from her face. Finishing the action, he let his fingers smooth over her cheek. Rogue turned into the gesture as she closed her eyes to the sensation.

Opening his hand to cup her face, he bent down to kiss her lightly on the lips. After thinking that she would never feel his kisses again, she was hungry for more. She opened her mouth against his still closed lips. It was all the indication Remy needed.

Deepening the kiss made Rogue catch her breath. Her eyes were still closed as he teased her tongue gently. Raising her hand to slide into his silky hair, she realized she needed to look at him and was rewarded with the distinctive glow of her husband's eyes. He stared intensely into her minty orbs as both continued the fevered kiss. Even as close as Rogue was to him, she couldn't get enough of Remy. The next few days were going to kill her waiting to get out of the Med Lab. Finally, he broke the kiss as he moved slightly out of her embrace. Once again, her breath was taken away with his devilish smirk.

"Careful, p'tit. Y' bein' more o' a tease dan Remy."

"What'sa matter, sugah. Ya gettin' a little hot under thah collar?"

Knowing what effect it had on him, Rogue easily slid back into her Southern accent. As she spoke, she seductively ran her fingers down his neck and over his chest before settling her hand at his waist. A wickedly teasing grin curved across her mouth when she saw his pupils dilate. His own smile faltered slightly before he regained the little composure he had lost.

"Jus' y' wait. I'll show y' what 'hot under th' collar' really means, chere."

Swatting him lightly against his hardened abs, Rogue wrapped both her arms around his waist. She squeezed him tightly.

"I love you. Never let me go."

"Never, Marie. Never."

Bending down, he placed a chaste kiss on her forehead before pulling his chair as close to the bed as possible. Remy once again took a seat next to Rogue. There was only a small silence before she spoke again, seriousness evident in both her tone and expression.

"I need to ask you a favor, Remy."

"Anyt'in'."

"Could you please get rid of your motorcycle? I can't bear the thought of anything happening to you, and if you were to have an accident, well…it would be pretty final."

"Y' know I'm not'in' but careful on it anymo'…"

Seeing the pleading look in her eyes and the underlying pain beneath it, he realized he couldn't deny her this request.

"…but if it'll make y' feel better. 'Sides, dere's somet'in' I wan' in return."

"Anything."

A gentle smile once again found its way onto her features. Repeating his earlier sentiment wasn't just a way to tease him. Rogue would do whatever this man asked of her. She couldn't imagine denying her love a single thing.

"Quit th' X-Men."

The pleasant expression eased slowly away from her. How could he possibly ask her to walk away from the only cause in which she ever believed? And how, on top of that, could he expect her to quit when he made no mention of doing the same himself?

"You know I ca-"

"-I know y' wouldn' even t'ink of leavin' th' team, but I almost lost y' out dere. Yo' 'fraid o' m' bike, 'm 'fraid o' what might happen inna fight. Y' were lucky dis time. Y' lost a lot o' blood an' I couldn' take it if y' bot' left me. 'M not askin' fo' it t' be permanent, jus' fo' a little while-"

"-Wait a minute, what do you mean both of us?"

He wanted to quip off a remark about how she should take her doctor's advice and listen to him when he told her she'd need to take it easy over the next few months, but the anxiety of what he knew outweighed his joking nature. Taking a deep breath, he sighed as he ran his hand through his hair. Looking away nervously, he tried to find the right words to tell her. Remy decided to just go for it.

"May not be too good at dis, p'tit. Most o' th' time, th' femme's tellin' th' homme, but since y' were inna coma when Hank-"

"-Just spit it out, Cajun."

Already sensing what he was trying to say, Rogue found that she still needed the verbal confirmation. The worst experience in her life was quickly becoming the most joyous she could ever remember, besides marrying Remy, of course.

"Y' gon' have mon enfant, Marie."

Rogue turned her attention away as she stared off into space. Remy held his breath when he was finished. Not even noticing his apprehension, she just kept going over what he had said. She was pregnant.

Ever since she was a little girl, she had dreamt of getting married and having a family of her own. When her mutation took affect, she thought that would never be possible. Then, Remy came into her life and showed her she didn't need skin to skin contact to be happy. When she gained control, it only made their relationship stronger, and later, their plan to get married sweeter. Now she was facing everything for which she had ever hoped and with the man she would forever love. Happiness was not even close to describing the pure elation running through her.

Smiling and turning her gaze back to Remy, Rogue noticed for the first time the fear written across his face. Her smile eased away his anxiety and he released the breath he had been holding. They hadn't specifically been planning on having kids right now in their lives, but when Hank discovered her pregnancy, Remy had been pleasantly shocked.

His life had never been easy, and when he met Rogue, he felt as if he was getting a break for once. When they got married, he didn't think their life together could possibly get any better than it already was. As he played the idea of having a baby around in his head more and more, he realized they had just begun to touch on the fulfillment in store for them.

However, as the last few weeks had progressed and Rogue still hadn't recovered from the coma, he began to let fear control him. What would he do if she didn't make it? Not only would he lose the only woman he ever loved, but the child she was carrying.

Hank continually assured him that she would recover, and as his previous doubts started to ease away, a whole new set entered his mind. What if she wasn't as pleased about the baby as he was? Sure, they had discussed having children before, but neither had really planned on that time being now. When she turned her gaze away from him and stared at nothing, he was sure his worst fears were coming true. After she looked back at him, Remy realized without a doubt everything was going to be okay. His conviction was only further validated when she spoke again.

"So I guess we have to think of some good names now, huh? How about Rebecca if it's a girl and Oliver if it's a boy?"

"Bekka's fine wit' moi, but I was t'inkin' Luc-Jon, 'cause o' mon pere."

"I don't think I said 'Bekka', sugah. And I've been wanting to name my son after his great-grandfather since I was younger."

"Well, I been wantin' t' name mon fils dat since…"

Rogue raised an eyebrow at him. Girls were always planning their kids names and usually constantly changing their minds as they grew up, but she had never heard one instance where boys did the same. Men came up with names, but not boys. She couldn't wait to hear his answer for this declaration.

"…Alright, y' got me dere, but it still don' change dat his name'll be Luc-Jon."

"Oliver."

"Luc-Jon."

"O-li-ver!"

"Luc-Jon!"

Deciding to change her approach Rogue went from a sing song attitude to one of silent mouthing. Apparently, she wasn't going to win this tiff as easily as she thought since Remy retorted with his own barely heard whisper. Trying a sulking tactic of folding her arms over her chest and looking away while returning 'Oliver' once more only made him stand up to gently tickle her sides.

"Luc-Jon, Luc-Jon, Luc-Jon."

She started to giggle, but wasn't about to give in so easily. Around her laughter, she thought she got in the last word.

"Oliver, Oliver, Oliver!"

Suddenly the tickling stopped as he moved in to capture her lips once again. He returned the passion she had shown him earlier and she was eager to receive it. Slowly the kiss came to an end. Remy looked in her eyes before whispering softly.

"Okay, but his name's gon' be Olivier Luc-Jon."

Rogue just rolled her eyes as a broad smile spread across her face. Of course he would go for the French equivalent, but at least she got her way. Reflecting on the last few hours and the memories Toxic had given her, Rogue realized everything was going to be okay. Her life was turning out to be more than she could ever have hoped and no one would ever be able to take that away from her.
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R/R: And a close to yet another story. Thanks to all my readers! Taking a peek at my stuff really lightens my mood. For the Fix Feeders, a momentarily final thanks:

VinGirl: Sorry to keep you waiting so long for the last chapter! Hope you liked the surprise. ;) Thanks for Feeding the Fix…

Prexistence: So how's the final twist? See, nice twist, not mean ones like yours have been recently! And since I have an idea for a trilogy, how do you know she doesn't know Remy yet? Guess you'll just have to wait and see. ;) Since I'm on hiatus from writing until I get my schedule worked out, you know that means I get leave long, detailed, probably whiny reviews on your stuff now. And they'll be especially whiny and pleading if I have to beg for quick updates. As I say so often, just you wait for my review! Thanks for Feeding the Fix…

ishandahalf: Glad I was able to answer your questions. Hope you've got them all down now that it's finished! And the hint was Hank's remark. It was in there twice, but like I said, the meaning was really subtle. As for the idea for a trilogy of this, well of course it'll be more torture! What kind of twisty-turny, topsy-turvy writer would I be if I didn't? ;) Thanks for Feeding the Fix…

MJK: Yay! You guessed right! The hint was in Hank's speech. I like the point you made about young people not thinking about burial arrangements. Hadn't even crossed my mind when I wrote that! ;) Sorry to keep you waiting so long for the update. Thanks for Feeding the Fix…

WolvGambit Le Diable Blanc: Okay, so I was a really bad writer. I didn't update quickly. And for that matter, I guess I'm a really bad reader since I have a lot of your stuff to catch up on! Just gonna have to do it a little at a time, but I'll get around to everything, eventually! ;) Thanks for Feeding the Fix…