Work of Art
Chapter Sixteen: A Deal, A Chance
By DamageCtrl

All Standard Disclaimers Apply: I do not own the X-Men or anything associated with it.

"Noon? Why noon?" Rogue grumbled into her phone. She still laid face down beneath a mountain of blankets and felt no reason to get up and leave her snug and warm fortress.

"Mother believes it will take you zhat long to make a pie." Kurt's voice replied coolly.

Rogue scowled. "It does NOT take six hours ta make a pie!"

"She said for YOU to make a pie."

"Ah hate yah, Kurt..." Rogue grumbled. Beside her, she heard someone chuckling as they over heard the conversation. "Fahne, pick meh up at noon."

"Be outside at your apartment, yah?" Kurt instructed. Rogue stiffened in bed.

"Umm...Ah ain't at mah apartment..." she trailed off. Beside her, more chuckling and a warm hand trailing up her nude backside. "Ah'm at Remy's."

As if on cue, Kurt began yelling into the phone with threats and curses and so forth. Rogue merely held the phone away from her ear and grinned as Remy moved over her body and nestled his head against her shoulder. He reached for the phone and smirked as he brought it to his hear.

"Bon jour, Kurt! Joyeux Noel, mon frere!" Remy cheerfully said, making Rogue giggle. There was a slight pause. And then Kurt began yelling at Remy. "Calm down, homme. Roguey just came t' visit me dis morning. Ain't dat right, chere?"

"Ah was here bright and early!" Rogue agreed. As well as dark and late last naght...

"Hear dat, Kurt? No harm no foul," Remy said as beneath him, the green eyed beauty rolled over on her back and wrapped her arms around him. "I'll tell her y'll be here in two hours...oui. Deux..." The line went dead and he closed Rogue's cell phone closed before reaching over to the night stand and placing it there.

"Two hours? That's not fair..." Rogue mumbled as she buried her head against his shoulder.

"Remy got y' de whole night, chere, can't be selfish now, non?" Remy reminded her. He gathered her in a warm embrace and placed a slow, deep kiss on her lips before pulling away slowly. "'Sides, y' said y'r Tante Irene was visiting."

A wide smile graced Rogue's face as she nodded. "Ah hope she likes what Ah got her..."

"Long as it isn't a sweater, she will," Remy grumbled with a hint of amusement. He had discovered he received six sweaters the night before. All of them black with a hint of red. Rogue tilted her head back and laughed. "Would it kill dem t' get Remy a tie or something..." He smirked. He looked down at her vulnerable neck and immediately attacked it.

Rogue let out a shriek as he ran his tongue against her throat, his hands slipping down to her sides and tickling her. "Remy! Stop! Ah'm ticklish!"

"I know," he smirked and pulled away, giving her one more quick kiss before rolling off her body. "Time t' get up, chere."

"But Ah have two hours..." she pouted. She looked up at him slyly. "That's enough time, yah know..."

"Dieu, Roguey! I'm only one man!" Remy sighed as he rolled over and fell beside her. "All y' want t' do is get in my pants. I feel so used..." He gave a mock look of sadness as he wrapped his arms around himself and turned his back to her while curling into the fetal position. Rogue let out an indignant gasp as she rolled her eyes. She slapped one firm bicep.

"Says the man who bought meh edible underwear!" Rogue grumbled. She watched his shoulders move with a small laugh and sighed. "What? Yah wanna snuggle, sugah?" She cooed in his ear as she wormed her arms around him and pressed her body against his back.

"Mebbe..." he said in a quiet, pouty voice. Rogue giggled and kissed his bare shoulder.

"Ah love yah, sugah..." she sighed, elated., She rested her head against his as her hands stroked the defined muscles of his stomach. "Thank yah fo' everythang."

Large hands went over hers and gathered them against him. "I love y', too. And y're welcome, chere. Thank y' for de boxers," he added with a grin. He rolled over and faced her a smug look on his face. "Y' know, y' were right...two hours is enough time t'-"

"Too late, Cajun," Rogue smirked as she pulled her arms away. "It's ten o'clock and Ah haven't eaten since midnight, so go make meh breakfast!"

Remy groaned and buried his face in the pillow. "I feel used again..." Despite his small protest, he slipped out of bed and looked for his clothes. Rogue merely propped herself up on her elbow as she watched him wander his neatly kept room for something to wear.

She was glad he kept the heater on. The room was nice and warm. He finally found a shirt and boxers and grabbed a sweatshirt from a set of drawers before heading to the bathroom. She heard the shower turn on and raised an eye brow. Rogue looked over at the clock on Remy's side of the bed.

10:07. Rogue threw off the covers and slid out of bed. "Damn mah breakfast...there's still time."

One long shower later, Remy flipped a small mini-pancake over on the griddle as Rogue cleaned up the mess beneath the tree. She sorted out their presents, including Remy's six new black and red sweaters, and her edible under garments. She kept her favorite present - Raphael's sketch - in it's box where it was safe with layers of tissue paper and a separate layer of Styrofoam beneath it.

She brushed aside damp white bangs as she folded up the boxes and put them into little piles to recycle. Jean had gotten her a series of gift certificates to stores downtown, probably since she wanted Rogue to have her freedom to buying whatever she wanted. Betsy gave her a set of blues CDs and Kitty and Piotr, who gave her a joint gift, got her a new dark brown coat.

What surprised her the most was that Remy's aunt from New Orleans, who he said practically raised him, sent her something too. When she pulled out a long lace sheet, Remy let out a half humiliated, half frustrated groan of torture. He wouldn't tell her what it meant, but suspected it had something to do with their relationship.

"Roguey, de food's ready!"

She stood up and headed into the kitchen. He prepared a nice, neat little breakfast of pancakes and fresh fruit. He had some orange juice for himself and gave Rogue her customary coffee. The talked for a while until the door bell rang and Rogue frowned.

"Kurt's here..." she mumbled.

Remy chuckled and began putting away the breakfast dishes. "Y' wanna answer de door, chere? Kurt might attack me on sight." Rogue rolled her eyes and headed for the door. She opened it and as expected, there stood her irate brother.

"Let's go."

"Let meh grab mah purse," Rogue grumbled. "Yah can come in yah know."

"I vill stay out here, thank you." Kurt replied stubbornly. As Rogue went into the living room to grab her bag, Remy emerged from the kitchen a wide smile on his face.

"Joyeux Noel, Kurt," Remy beamed. "Y' wanna come inside. It's cold."

"I vill stay here, thanks," Kurt replied gruffly. He studied Remy, who looked much too proud of himself. "Vhat are you doing today?"

"Got some work t' d' for Xavier's," Remy answered casually. "Thought I'd get started."

"Okay, sugah, Ah'm heading out now. See yah later?" Rogue stopped in front of Remy and gave him a chaste kiss.

Remy smirked and reached out, grabbing Rogue by the waist. She stopped and gave him a confused look before he pulled her close for a long, deep kiss. Outside the door, Kurt rolled his eyes and turned around to avoid looking at them. When he was finished, Remy pulled back, leaving Rogue to gasp for breath as she lazily fanned her blushing face. "See y' tonight, chere."

Rogue stumbled out of his arms, a dazed and yet happy look on her face. "Let's just go..." Kurt grumbled. The two of them headed down to his car and began their drive.

"Aunt Irene!" Rogue threw her arms around the woman sitting in the den of her mother's house. "Ah'm so glad yah came!"

Irene wrapped her arms around Rogue as she chuckled and squeezed the young woman tightly. "Rogue...I'm so glad to be here. How are you doing? Your mother told me all about your new job," Rogue pulled her self away and beamed a wide smile at Irene, despite the fact that the woman was blind. "Are you enjoying it?"

"Ah'm having a great tahme. Ah've been assigned to work on this project for Professah Charles Xavier and so far he lahke's mah work on the buildings," Rogue gushed. She sat herself down on the couch next to Irene as she pulled off her gloves and scarf. "And mah team has really good chemistry..."

In the kitchen, Raven was working on dinner and Kurt was getting something hot to drink ready. "Where did you pick her up?"

"She vas vaiting outside her apartment," Kurt answered simply. Like hell he was going to tell their mother she was at her hated boyfriend's house. "She vasn't too happy about ze pie comment." he added, trying to lighten the mood.

Raven smirked as she opened up a can of fruit. "I wouldn't say it if I didn't think it was true," Raven replied. She walked out to the den area and shouted above the sound of the television and Rogue's energetic story telling. "Rogue! Don't forget to get started on your pie!"

"It won't take meh six hours ta make a pie, momma!" Rogue shouted back. She looked back at Irene, who was grinning. "Ah CAN cook, Aunt Irene."

"Of course, dear," Irene smiled. She leaned forward and kissed Rogue on the forehead before the young woman got up. It always amazed Rogue how Irene could do that. Maybe she just had really good hearing. "Now go get started on your pie."

She immediately gave a scowl, but stood up and trudged over to the kitchen. She grabbed one of the aprons that was hanging on the wall. Raven was already wearing the black one she usually wore and Kurt, who was pealing potatoes, was wearing a navy blue one. Rogue settled for the hunter green one and sighed as she joined her family.

As she gathered her materials for her pie, she stole glances at her brother. Kurt was peeling potatoes flawlessly with a knife. Behind them, her mother was cooking some German stew while stuffing a chicken with some herbs. Rogue mentally grumbled. Perhaps it was some sort of Darkholme blood that made them such excellent cooks and because she was adopted, she turned out to be a complete idiot in the kitchen.

"You need help, mein schwester?" Kurt asked as Rogue put piles of objects on to the granite counter top.

"No, Ah can do this mahself." Rogue told him proudly. She walked to the refrigerator where her mother had placed everything they would need to make dinner the night before, and shuffled around for a pre-made pie shell.

"It's on the top, dear." Raven said without turning around.

"Ah know...Ah saw it..." Rogue grumbled. She pulled out the shell and placed it to the side as she began mixing her ingredients.

"So what are you making this year? Apple? Cherry?"

"Ah thought Ah could try this recipe Ah found on the internet - chocolate Amaretto pie." The kitchen seemed to go silent except for the sound of the simmering stew.

"Oh..." Raven said, her voice trailing off. She gave Rogue a weak smile and tried to hide the worry in her voice. "It's a NEW recipe...do you have it with you?"

"Nah, Ah read it and know what ta do." Rogue assured her. Raven's hands tightened nervously around the chicken she was stuffing.

"Have you tried to make it before?"

"No."

"Okay...well...I look forward to tasting your new...creation, my dear." Raven looked back down at her chicken and sighed as she placed it on the pan.

Kurt stared at Rogue as she began to pile things into a mixing bowl. As he peeled carrots, he could've sworn he heard her mumble "Was it 1/8 cup of salt or 1/3?" And so he began to pray.

Six hours later, the dining room was formally set and the food laid out. Kurt escorted Irene to the table and Raven peeked into the kitchen. "Rogue...dear...it's time for dinner." she said carefully.

Standing in the middle of the kitchen, covered with splotches of cream cheese and melted chocolate, was Rogue. She wiped her face, merely smearing more cream cheese over her cheeks as she held up her hand to her mother. "One second, momma, mah pie is almost done."

The timer went off and Rogue let out a gleeful cheer as she put on the oven mitts and pulled open the oven door. As soon as she did, a burnt smell flooded the kitchen and Raven's eyes began to water.

"Perhaps you over cooked it..." Raven choked out as she covered her mouth.

"No, Ah followed the directions," Rogue coughed out as she pulled the slightly charred edged pie out of the oven. She placed it on the stove and turned off the oven as she stepped back, waving her oven mitt clad hands over the pie. "See?" Rogue let out a cough. "It's FINE!"

"Then let's allow it to cool." Raven said. She walked into the now slightly smoky kitchen and pulled Rogue away from her precious pie. As soon as they entered the kitchen, Irene's voice rang out.

"What's that smell?"

"It's Rogue's pie...doesn't it smell...unique?" Raven asked weakly. Rogue smiled broadly as she took her seat across from her mother.

"Yes..." Irene murmured. "Unique..."

"I'll say a prayer, yah?" Kurt offered. Raven nodded and everyone bowed there head. Several German spoken lines later, he was cutting the ham as Raven and Rogue passed around dishes.

"Excellent chicken, Raven," Irene said as she swallowed a piece of her food. "And Kurt, you made the sauce? It's very good."

"Thank you." Kurt smiled.

"And I look forward to tasting Rogue's pie." Irene added, so as not to make Rogue feel left out.

"Zhat makes one of us..." Kurt murmured under his breath. Rogue quickly kicked him in the shins and he shot her a pained glare. Rogue stuck out her tongue.

"Rogue, don't kick your bother," Raven scolded lightly as she brought a dish forward. This time, Kurt stuck out his tongue. "Both of you, no faces at the table!"

"Ja, mutter." the two of them chorused. Raven had give Rogue informal German lessons so as not to feel left out when Kurt addressed Raven in his first language.

"So, what else are you two up to these days?" Irene asked as she cut through a piece of ham and brought it to her mouth. "Dating anyone?"

Kurt nearly choked on his wine and Rogue nearly dropped her fork. "Dating?" they both chorused.

"Yes, do they still call it that?" Irene asked curiously. "Seeing people? Going out? Significant other. Boyfriend, girlfriend. That sort of thing?"

Rogue stared down at her food, refusing to look over at her mother. "Don't have time for a girlfriend right now," Kurt said lamely. "I'm almost done vid my doctorate...afterwards, maybe."

"What about you, Rogue?" Irene asked. Mentally, the young woman cursed. Across from her Kurt had gone silent. Raven said nothing and focused on her meal.

"Well...Ah'm seeing this guy..." Rogue trailed off. "His name is Remy and he's an artist."

"Really?" Irene said, pleased. "What a coincidence. I remember Raven telling me Herr Wagner was an artist when she first met him," Irene chuckled. "You must have the same taste as your mother."

Rogue's eyes widened and quickly darted down the table to where Raven was meticulously cutting her food. "Momma... yah nevah said anythang about Kurt's dad being an artist."

"It was common at the time for aristocracy to dabble in the arts," Raven replied defensively. "That's why both you and Kurt have formal training in art and music."

"Kurt, did yah know?" Rogue asked her brother. Kurt shrugged.

"I know he painted a little. But not zhat it was an occupation for him."

"He was from a wealthy family, art was a leisure activity to him." Raven insisted once more. Rogue's eyes narrowed and her hand tightened around the napkin on her lap.

"Ah can't believe yah...yah keep saying that Remy's a low life scum ball when yah married an artist!" Rogue spat out. "Gawd, momma, how can you be such a hypocrite!" she yelled.

"Anna Marie, do not raise your voice at the table!" Raven scolded.

"Then don't call Remy a low life!"

"He IS a low life regardless of his occupation!"

"How can yah even say that? Yah don' know anythang 'bout him!"

"I know what kind of man he is and I know he's not the type of person I want associating with my daughter!" Raven and Rogue were now standing up on their respective sides of the table. Kurt looked up, unsure of what to do. All eating had ceased.

Rogue tossed her napkin on the table. "Yah are unbelievable sometimes, yah know that?" Rogue said in a low voice as her eyes watered up. "Ah really like Remy. Ah love him...it's been years since Ah could say Ah loved a man this openly and instead of being supportive of meh, yah keep planting suspicion and jealousy and hate into mah head! Why can't yah just be happy that Ah found someone who cares about meh?"

She whirled around, nearly knocking down her chair as she ran out of the room. Raven stood still, clenching her own napkin tightly in her hands. Kurt looked down at his plate silently and slowly continued on with the motions of cutting his food.

To his right, Irene sat down, her head faced towards Raven. "She's your daughter, Raven."

"I know," the woman said in a low voice as she covered her face with one hand. "Which is why I don't want him around her."

"You can't protect her from everything," Irene said understandingly. "You really hurt her."

"I'd rather I hurt her then him breaking her heart...just like all those bastards before him," Raven spat out. She closed her eyes tightly and threw her napkin down on her chair. "I don't want to see her hurt like that ever again..."

She pushed her chair back and headed out of the room, after Rogue. Irene sighed and turned her head to Kurt. "Now I see why you're not in a relationship, Kurt."

"Ja...the drama..."

Rogue walked out into the redwood deck that was in front of the house. From where it was perched, she could see down the hill and had the most glorious view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco skyline. She took a deep breath to try to calm herself as she wiped at her eyes furiously.

Her feet were still clad in socks and she was wearing jeans and nice sweater, but even in the chill night area, they were doing nothing to keep her warm. Instead, her breath froze before her as she walked towards the railing and leaned over, looking out over the water. Her eyes squinted as she looked at the lights along the water line of the city.

Somewhere, down there, Remy was warm in his apartment, probably painting and wearing one of his new red and black sweaters. And in a box, which she'd left in his living room to be picked up later, was a centuries old piece of parchment that was priceless to him, but not because of it's age and who drew on it.

As she stared down, lost in her thoughts of a warm embrace and the tingling sensation left behind by swollen lips, she didn't hear the door slide open behind her.

"Anna Marie?"

She closed her eyes tightly. "Go away. Ah don't wanna to speak ta yah."

"Then just listen to me," Raven said slowly. She watched as her daughter wrapped her arms around herself in an attempt to keep her warm. "Do you want to go inside where it's warmer?"

"Are yah gonna talk ta meh or are yah gonna try ta coax meh back in?" Rogue spat out venomously. Raven took a deep breath and sighed.

"Fine..." she resigned. "I know you hate me for hating your boyfriend, but you have to see it from my point of view. I am your mother I love you more than you will probably ever realize. And I will do anything to protect you, just like I would Kurt. And you must understand that I have witnessed two men in your life hurt you so bad that it pained me to see you.

"First that boy Cody...how he ripped apart your self confidence and made you so unsure of yourself, you were hospitalized. Do you know how it felt to be a mother and be called at work only to be told that your daughter was in the hospital? Do you know how scared I was? I thought you were going to die. And then that wretched boy poured salt on your wound by seeing another girl while you, because of him, were in the hospital. It broke my heart to see you in tears, Anna Marie.

"And then, just three years later some arrogant bastard started beating you. And you kept it from me..." Raven whispered in a low voice. "He hit you. He called you horrible names. He broke your spirit, dear. I remember looking into your eyes one night and I saw nothing. And when I found out he hit you, God help me, I was going to take care of him myself. It took months for those bruises and cuts to go away. For your to regain your health. Months of therapy and frustration on my part that I could've been so negligent as to let someone hurt you right under my nose.

"That's why I brought you to San Francisco with me, Rogue. I wanted you to be safe and happy. I didn't want to get any more calls from Irene, hear any more bad news from Kurt. I didn't want any more men hurting you." she concluded.

Rogue gripped the railing tightly and shook her head. "Yah don't know Remy. He's nothing like Cody or Freddy. He's sweet and gentle an'-"

"Wonderful, yes, I've heard it all before," Raven nodded. "But he has a reputation, Rogue. One that I don't believe is good for you. I know men like that, Rogue. I've been hurt by men like that and they don't change!"

"That's all in the past, momma," Rogue sighed as she turned around and looked at her mother with puffy eyes. "So what that he was popular with women? Of course he is, look at him! And the fire? We talked about that and Ah don't blame him...he already blames himself. He lives with the guilt every day...Ah don't care what yah say...Remy's not gonna hurt meh."

"He's going to break your heart, Rogue."

"If he is, then LET him," Rogue exclaimed tiredly. "Just let Remy and I do this on our own. If he breaks mah heart; if he cheats on meh or whatever, yah won't be able ta protect me. If yah try ta get in our way now, yah'll hurt meh more than Remy ever could and, so help meh, Ah will never forgive yah. Remy might be the one for meh...and Ah won't know unless Ah see this through."

Raven stood there, her eyes cold and angry, but sad as well. "I don't want to see you hurt, Rogue. You're my daughter."

"Ah know and yer mah momma and Ah love yah," Rogue said. She wiped the corners of her eyes. "Just don't get in our way. Stop treating him like he's a criminal or a bum or some careless heart breaker. He's not like that ta meh. Whatever happens happens."

"And if he hurts you?"

"Then yah'll be there for meh," Rogue said. "Just like before."

"I don't want it to have to come to that," Raven said quietly. She took a deep breath and crossed her arms. "You win, Rogue. I will always think he'll never be good enough for you, but I will stay out of your way. I'll give him..." She took a deep breath a scowled. "A chance."

Rogue gave her mother a questioning look. "Promise, momma?"

"I promise," Raven grumbled. "Even though I don't want to."

Rogue smiled. "Yah've never broken a promise ta meh before...Yah even stole a car ta get ta mah sixth grade play."

Raven snorted and looked away. "I did not steal a car. I borrowed it."

"Sure, momma..." Rogue chuckled. She crossed the deck and reached over to give her mother a hug. "Yah promise."

"And I'll keep my promise and I will not get between you two and I will act civil," Raven said as she hugged her daughter tightly. "I will give him a chance. ONE chance...but he's still a low life in my book, though."

"Momma..."

"And if he hurts you-"

"THEN yah can hunt him down. But not while he's sweeping meh off mah feet," Rogue grinned. She kissed her mother's cheek and looked at her warily. "So what's the catch?"

Raven smirked slightly. "You know me well."

"Some times TOO well," Rogue said as she pulled away and crossed her arms. "What is it? Will Ah have ta pretend he doesn't exist in front of yah? Because he's part of mah life now, just like yah are and sooner or later yah'll have to meet up - PEACEFULLY."

Raven shook her head. "I still want a portrait of you for the house."

"That's all?" Rogue asked, surprised as she raised an eyebrow. She grinned. "That's no problem. Ah can get Remy-"

"No, I don't want LeBeau's work in MY house," Raven frowned. "Even if it is of you."

Rogue frowned back. "But yah bought his work for Aunt Irene."

"THAT was for your Aunt Irene. I don't want to have to come home every day and see a constant reminder that a sub par man is seeing my daughter," Raven told her coolly. "Besides, I've already paid for a sitting with Mr. Boudreaux to have your portrait done."

"What?" Rogue gasped. She jerked her head back and frowned. "That nut job who said he was Remy? Yah actually PAID him?"

"I've seen his work, Rogue, and he wasn't lying. They were beautiful. And he specializes in people, not abstract like LeBeau," Raven informed her. "All I ask is that you go to the sitting and get your portrait done. Just a few hours, that's all I ask."

Rogue seemed to mull over the proposition quietly. On one hand, Remy didn't seem to like Julian. On the other, going would mean her mother would give Remy a chance. Rogue gave Remy a chance...and he won her over. Still... if she told Remy about the sitting with Julian...

"He's not gonna like it..." Rogue whispered quietly. She chewed on her lower lip quietly and took a deep breath. But it's just one sitting and it ain't like Ah have ta be nude or anything...Just an hour or two. She looked over at her mother. "And you'll give Remy a chance?" she asked again. Raven nodded, although not happy with the deal. "Okay...Ah'll do it, but yah better keep yer promise."

"Fine..." Raven gently pushed her daughter back and raised her hands up to cup Rogue's face "You're frozen. Get inside now. I'm sure your Aunt Irene and Kurt want a slice of your pie."

Rogue nodded as she shivered and slid open the glass door. "Aren't yah gonna come in?"

"In a moment...I just want to go over this agreement we just made..." Raven grumbled with a frown. Rogue chuckled and nodded.

"Don't stay out to long, momma." She slipped inside of the house and Raven watched as she closed the door and disappeared inside. As soon as Rogue was out of sight, she reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone.

She walked towards a corner of the deck where she couldn't be seen and held the phone up to her ear.

"Joyeux Noel, Madam Darkholme!" an overly cheerful male voice greeted her snidely. "T' what do I owe dis pleasure?"

"I want a change of plans, Boudreaux," Raven said in a slick calculating voice. "Do not try anything with my daughter when she comes to your sitting."

"Quoi? Why de change o' heart?"

"This is not a change of heart," Raven spat out. "You will still be paid in full so long as the portrait is made. However, if Rogue so much as tells me that you laid a filthy hand on her or say as much as one lewd remark, you will be on my bad side. And my bad side is not a side you want to be on. Do I make myself clear, Boudreaux?"

"Oui, Madam Darkholme, perfectly clear," Julien said coolly. "Thank y' for y'r business." The woman hung up on him and he let out a laugh as he tossed his phone to the side.

"Why y' laughing?" Belle said as she walked into her brother's study. "Dinner's ready, Julien."

"Nothing, Belle. Just going over de plans for Miss Darkholme's sitting." Julien lifted up a package that had arrived in the mail the other day and shook out it's contents. Immediately, Belle frowned and recoiled into the hall way.

"Whatcha doing wid dat stuff, Julien?" she hissed as she eyed the numerous pieces of voodoo paraphernalia on her brother's desk. "Where'd y' get dat stuff? It's dangerous!"

"Don worry, Belle, just few charms t' help wid de painting." he assured her. Belle shook her head and narrowed her eyes.

"Does de lady know y' playing wid dose?"

"Non, but she said she wanted LeBeau away from her fille." Julien grinned.

Belle shook her head. "I don't like it, Julien...When Remy finds out..."

"It ain't gonna hurt y', Belle," he chuckled. "Don't worry...LeBeau won't find out. She won't tell him she's coming t' a sitting wid me. He won't let 'er."

"Sometimes, I think y're crazy, mon frere..." Belle walked away and disappeared from his view as Julien moved the contents back into the back.

"De trap is set and no one but Julien knows what's gonna happen," he smirked. "When I'm done wid y'r femme, LeBeau, y' gonna regret ever showing y' face in de bayou."

A.N.: And the plot (appears?) thickens. Hope everyone is enjoying the story so far. Yep, I made Mystique a softy (somewhere behind all the evil). It will get darker... I guess... For now, thanks for reading!