Wow. So, its been awhile. I meant to update sooner, but life is crazy. Working four days a week and spending the other three days with family members who want to do stuff with you before you go back to school, then getting sick . . . . It wears you down.

I'm sad to say that the next chapter might be the last of 'Kismet'. I never planned out how many chapters this was going to have, but it's winding down. So unless some plot bunny attacks me, expect the end soon.

-Chapter Nineteen-

- Confession is Good for the Soul -

Rogue let out a deep sigh and dropped her book beside her on the bed. It was impossible to concentrate; too many thoughts were streaming through her mind. A glance at the clock confirmed that it had been exactly two hours and thirty four minutes since Remy had entered the Professor's office. Flopping back onto her pillows, the teen stared at the ceiling.

It was hard to believe that just a short three hours previous, she had been holding a crying Remy in her arms. Rogue didn't know what scared her more - the fact that her friend had broke down before her eyes, or the fact that it just felt so right.

She shivered slightly and pulled her arms around herself in a self-hug. She just couldn't shake the look she had seen in Remy's eyes as he leaned in closer to her face . . .

But she couldn't think like that. Even if, by some miracle, Remy felt more for her than friendship, there was still one major problem. She was untouchable with poisonous skin. Sure, they could work around it. They did that right now, didn't they? But honestly, what was a romantic relationship when you could never kiss, never hug, never touch without consciously avoiding skin-to-skin contact? Rogue sighed. We both got enough issues ta deal with; we don't have ta add that onta th' list.

Rogue was pulled out of her musings by a rapping knock on the door. "It's open," she called.

"Hey, shelia." A fiery head of hair poked into the room. "How's th' boyfriend holdin' up?"

"He still talkin' ta th' Professor. And he's not my boyfriend." She added with a glare that didn't conceal her slight blush.

"Please," he replied flippantly, obviously not scared of her temper the way the other students were. "Th' only thing non-boyfriend-girlfriend 'bout your relationship is th' obvious lack o' makin' out, which, I think, Jean an' Scotty fill the mansion's quota so ya guys don' have ta start."

"We're not datin', John." She stated firmly.

"Sure, sure. Whatever ya say. Tell Remy I'm waitin' for 'im in the livin' room."

"What makes ya think I'll see 'im before ya do?"

St. John just laughed. "Trust me, Ya'll be th' first ta see 'im."

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Remy shifted slightly in his seat next to Ororo. She placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. On his other side, Logan tried to appear disinterested, but truthfully, he found the young man quite intriguing - a kindred spirit, struggling with the indiscretions of a troubling past.

Charles steepled his hands in front of him and gave Remy one of his piercing looks. "I know it must be extremely difficult for you to come to us, Remy. You have not been at the mansion very long, so you have good reason to feel that you cannot trust us with such a secret. I assure you: what you say here in my office is in complete confidence. No one outside this room will ever know, unless you deem it fit to tell them yourself." He paused momentarily, allowing the information to soak in. "So, when you are a ready, tell us why your father decide to send you to New York."

Taking a deep breath, Remy began to tell his story.

It was a night like any other night. The air was warm and humid and the sky was clear, midnight blue - the perfect night to be out on the town. Three young men, two in their early twenties and one slightly younger, were making their way back home after a night of pool and drinks.

One swayed slightly and draped his arms over his cousin and brother's shoulders. His face was plastered with an inebriated grin. "Why don' we do dis mo' often, Lapin? Dis was de best damn night o' m' life!"

Remy raised his eyebrows. "Don' t'ink Merci would 'preciate y' sayin' dat, frere."

Henri scoffed and waved a dismissive hand. "Lapin an' me gotta teach y' mo' 'bout married life, Remy. De first rule? She's not de boss! It don' matter what she t'inks; what y' say goes. When y' an' Belladonna git married next year, y' make sure she know dat, homme, o' y' gonna be sorry."

Lapin, the eldest of the three, just shook his head. " I t'ink we gotta sober y' up f'r y' go home, Henri."

"'M fine!" The protest was hard to believe as his words slurred slightly. "Soon's de street stops rockin' back'n'forth, I'll be fine."

Lapin began to retort, but was cut off as three men walked out of an alley and into their path. Remy threw a glare in the interrupters' direction. "What y' want, Julien?"

"T' save m' sister's reputation."

The three LeBeaus snorted with laughter when Lapin noted, "It's a lil' late f'r dat, homme."

Julien turned his attention to the other two long enough to say, "Dis is between me an' de freak," before focusing back on Remy. "Dat's what y' are, ain't y'? Dere's been rumors goin' 'round town 'bout Jean Luc's 'dopted son bein' . . . special."

"Why don' y' mind y' own business an' listen t' de rumors dat are goin' 'round 'bout y' sister, Boudreaux," Remy ground out between clenched teeth.

Leering, Julien stepped closer. "Oh, I t'ink dat it is m' business. See, m' pere an' yo' pere agreed t' have y' an' Bella marry. So, if y' pere knows somet'in' 'bout y' dat he's not tellin' m' pere . . . well, den it's m' job find it."

"Please," scoffed Remy, "If y' would jus' git a girlfriend, y' pere would forget all 'bout dis marriage."

"Y' lil'-"

Julien lunged at the teenager, but was stopped by Henri. "Don' y' dare touch m' frere." He swung at the other man, but the alcohol was taking a hold on his system, causing him to miss. Seeing this impairment, Julien easily twisted him around and shoved him into Lapin, causing the two to fall in a heap on the ground.

Remy, more preoccupied with his family members' well-being, made the mistake of taking his eyes off of Julien. Seconds later, he found himself doubled over, clutching his side. He gasped in pain as he pulled the small dagger out of his side. He stared at the thin piece of metal, covered in his blood, anger welling up in chest.

Remy could faintly hear Lapin and Henri's shouts of warning as he charged forward with a primal yell.

Julien reached for his gun, but was two late. The bullet rocketed harmlessly into the sky as he was tackled by the younger boy. They grappled for control of the gun before it began to glow a bright magenta. Remy wrenched it out of Julien's hand and tossed it moments before it exploded in a brilliant flash of fire. Julien fixed him a with a look of pure loathing. "I knew it. I knew y' were some kinda freak." He continued his struggle against Remy, landing several solid punches.

For years to come, Remy would never forget what happened next. One minute he had the small dagger firmly clutched in his hand and the next minute he watched in horror as the dagger sank into Julien's chest.

Remy sat straddled on Julien's waist as he mouthed wordlessly. Fear, panic and guilt seized Remy as blood began to bubble out of Julien's mouth. "No . . . I didn' mean t' . . . I . . ."

He heard an ear-piercing scream as Belladonna ran down the street, obviously noticing she was much too late to stop her brother from getting into a fight. "NON! Mon frere!" She flung herself beside her brother and shoved Remy out of the way. Tears streaked her young face as she sobbed in despair.

"Remy, let's go!" Shouted Henri, fully sober and pulling on his younger brother's arm. The police sirens were starting to drown out Remy's incoherent mumblings. "We gotta git outta here, Remy!" The two older men hauled the teen to his feet and forced him to run with them.

" . . . by de next mornin' it was all over town. De son o' de Assassins' Guild leader had been killed by de son o' de T'ieves Guild leader. Dey gave m' father an ultimatum: ship me outta town o' have me killed. Bein' m' father, he was mo' partial t' de first choice." Remy shifted slightly, Ororo's hand still on his shoulder and looked at the Professor for the first time since he started his story. "So . . . y' gonna turn me int' de N'awlins police o' somet'in' now? Do I have t' leave?"

Charles shook his head. "If you remember, when you first came here, I said I would look past your previous indiscretions. I pride myself in keeping my word, Mr. LeBeau. Besides," His eyes flickered to Logan for a moment, "You are not first person to come here with a . . . shady past. I am not saying I in any way condone what you did, or absolve you of it. A young man is dead, and at your hand. There is no way to change that. But I can assure you we will help you through your guilt and not hold this against you; it was, after all, a mistake. A tragic mistake, but a mistake nonetheless."

"What he means, kid," Stated Logan, "is that we're here ta help, so don't do anything stupid."

Ororo gave him a slight hug. "Your father sent you here because he knew I would make sure you are safe, child."

Remy gave a small smile. "T'anks."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"I'm gonna ignore that stick o' death in ya mouth an' hope ya feelin' better." Remy smiled around his cigarette as the familiar soft drawl spoke from behind him. Motioning to the room beside him on the porch swing, the Cajun continued to stare at the darkening sky. Stars were starting to peek through the clouds as the sun sank below the horizon.

Wrapped in a flannel blanket, Rogue settled in beside Remy. They sat in silence watching the last sun rays disappear.

"De Professor says I got lots o' issues t' work through. Not jus' wit' Julien's death, either. He says I should talk t' someone 'bout what happened de day m' mom died, when 'm ready." Remy ground out the last of his cigarette as he spoke.

"Talkin' through stuff does help. Got us back ta bein' friends again." Replied Rogue with a small smile.

"Yeah." He leaned back and put an arm around her shoulders. "I guess dat's a good t'ing." A grin played across his lips.

She elbowed him lightly and grinned back. "Guess ya're feelin' fine if ya're back ta bein' a jerk."

"Y' wound, me cherie."

"I try."

They sat for quite some time as another stretch of silence passed between them. Rogue shivered slightly and scooted as close as she dared, carefully laying her head on his clothed shoulder. Sighing, she said, "It's startin' ta get late; we should head inside." In contradiction to her words, she made no efforts to move.

Remy tightened his hold and carefully laid his head atop of hers. "Yeah, in few mo' minutes."

And that is how Logan found them several hours later. Shaking his head slightly, he covered them with a blanket. Standing in the door watching for a few more moments, he stated, "Don't say a word."

Smiling, Ororo wrapped her arms around him from behind. "I wouldn't even think about," She replied. "Come to bed; they'll be fine."

"Yeah, they will be." Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, Logan lead his fiancee upstairs.