So, here we are. Last chapter. Nine months, 20 chapters, 36000 plus words, and over 250 reviews. Hope y'all had as much fun as me.
A/N - The format is little different for this chapter 'cuz I had alot of loose ends to tie up. Hope it's okay.
A/N 2 - Sorry it took so long to update. I was naughty and my account got locked for awhile. No offense to anyone, but tons of people have song fics, so why do I get busted repeatedly, but other people don't at all?
-Chapter Twenty -
- A Funeral, A Birthday, A Wedding, A Couple -
The months passed swiftly, taking New York through the cold winter months and bringing spring to the state. No secrets left between them, two friends continue to lean on each other through hard times . . .
Remy ambled down the hallway, not eager to reach his destination. His mother died when he was six and he hadn't missed her all that much; would he be able to console someone who lost someone they actually loved?
Rogue had returned from Caldacott late in the night, or so the students had been informed by Kitty. Rogue had remained in her room all day, not even coming out for meals.
So here he was, ordered by the teachers to take some food up to her room because "she would listen to him". As he neared the door, Remy thought back to events that caused Rogue's impromptu trip south.
It was a perfect day outside - that alone should have alerted them to trouble in the near future. Eager to enjoy the beautiful weather, most of the mansion's occupants had ventured outside by the late morning.
The younger mutants had commandeered the pool, rejoicing in the first day warm enough for swimming. Logan sat near the pool, watching the teens and pretending to listen to the wedding details Ororo was talking about as she reclined beside him.
The Professor had gathered the few students who had powers connected to nature and was using the unusually nice day as a chance to guide them in exercising those powers.
The older teens had started an interesting game of touch football on the lawn by allowing the use of (non-lethal) powers. Remy had even convinced Rogue to participate in the game. The game was boys against girls, causing many problems.
Scott, hesitant about stopping Jean, let the girls score two touchdowns. St. John, less reserved about playing against his girlfriend, pinched Wanda's butt as he tagged her. This resulted in him flying through the air, being saved by Jean when he was seconds away from crashing into the ground.
Rogue was running for a touchdown and Remy had grabbed her around the waist, spinning her around when Hank had approached the group. The grim look on his face sent a chill down Remy's spine - something bad had happened.
The doctor had pulled Rogue aside, away from the others, but they all had noticed when she started to sob.
A few hours later found Rogue on a plane ride back home. The news was broken to the other students over dinner - Irene Adler was dead.
Arriving at Rogue's room, Remy knocked lightly on the door before going inside. "Marie?"
She didn't answer, but waved him over to the window seat where she was sitting. She continued to stare outside as he sat down beside her.
Having to no clue what to say, or if he even should speak, Remy stayed silent and waited for her start the conversation.
As the minutes ticked by and the sun dipped below the horizon Remy began to doubt his decision. The clock told he had been sitting the same spot for nearly forty minutes, and while Rogue had picked at the food on the tray, she had made no effort to start talking. Just when he was ready to say something, which inevitably would be stupid and embarrassing, she broke the silence.
"It was awful. Aunt Irene was such a sweet lady, practically th' whole town came ta th' funeral. They were all givin' me an' mom th' evil eye. Cody's mom even went as far as ta pull me aside an' tell me I had no business bein' there." Remy could see tears starting to form in her eyes and quickly put a comforting arm around her. "They were all bein' so mean, like I hurt Cody on purpose."
"So . . . everybody knows 'bout . . .?"
Rogue gave a choked laugh. "Ya think there's anyone Lillian didn't tell?" Sighing she leaned on his shoulder. " I kept thinkin' 'bout th' stupidest stuff while I was there."
Remy tightened his hold slightly. "Y' mean like-"
"No, nothin' 'bout Caldacott. Just memories an' stuff 'bout Aunt Irene."
"Like?"
"Th' day I met ya, she had told me I'd have th' best friends in th' world one day." She smiled slightly. "Th' X-men are pretty great."
"'M gonna pretend dat y' didn' jus' insult me an' ask what else y' were rememberin'."
"When I was twelve, right before we moved ta Caldacott, Aunt Irene gave me this beautiful locket. I nevea really was a jewelry girl, but it was so pretty. It had this gem on the front that matched my eyes. But then I lost it before we even left the restaurant. I've always felt guilty 'bout that, 'cuz I nevea told her."
Eyes wide, but voice even, Remy asked, "How'd y' lose it?"
"Not sure. It was th' same day my powers acted up, so I really can't remember." She punctuated the end of her statement with a large yawn and glanced at the clock. "Wow. It's gettin' late. Ya better go so ya can git some sleep before trainin' with Logan."
Beside her, Remy woke from his reverie and jumped slightly. "What? Oh, yeah. Better go."
Rogue frowned slightly. "Ya okay, Remy?"
"Hmm? 'M fine. See y' t'morrow." He gave her a nervous smile and headed towards the door. He was almost out when she called his name. "Yeah?"
"Thanks."
"Anytime."
As soon as the door was closed, Remy's smile fell from his face. The necklace just had to be a coincidence, it just had to be. There was only one way to find out.
Hurrying to his room, Remy was relieved to finding his roommates asleep. Pulling out a small box hidden in his drawer, he hastily combed through the contents, searching for a particular item.
There! Gently, Remy took out the necklace, the light glinting off the emerald stone. Inspecting it, he found a thin crack that went around the edge of the pendent. When he pried it open, Remy almost dropped it in shock.
There was his own face, years younger, smiling back at him.
Weeks passed and slowly, but surely, things returned to normal. Or as normal as they could be in a mansion filled with raging teenage hormones and emerging mutant abilities. As spring faded into summer, it ushered in a day two of the mansion's occupants had been anticipating for quite some time . . .
"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday day to you, Happy Birthday Remy and Rogue, Happy Birthday to you!"
Wearing identical grins, the two blew out the eighteen candles on their massive cake. All but one extinguished; its flame almost dancing teasingly.
"John!" Warned Wanda from behind Remy.
"Fine." Huffed the Australian. In an instant, the last candle had gone out, St. John grumbling in its wake. "Damn shelia never lets me have any fun . . "
"Excuse me?"
"Nothin' love."
Laughter rang out from the group of friends as Wanda gave her boyfriend a skeptical glare.
The day wore on in a blur of laughter, cake, presents, and friendship. As she trekked to her room later that night, Rogue tried to remember a time she had had such fun on her birthday.
She approached her room to find a rather nervous-looking Remy standing outside her door. He shifted restlessly, clutching a small box in his hand.
Curious as to what could make her normally collected friend so flustered, Rogue quickened her pace. "What's up, Remy?"
"Hmm?" His gaze shot up from the floor, his mind else where. "Oh, I, uh, . . . I wanted t' give y' ya present."
Rogue frowned. "Ya gave me a present downstairs when everybody else did."
He shifted uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact. "I know. Dis is . . . it's not 'zactly a present. . . I didn' wanna give it t' y' in front of everyone . . . Its jus' . . . It's complicated, Marie; jus' open it." He finished, shoving the box into her hands.
Curious and confused, Rogue pulled off the wrapping paper to reveal a simple jewelry box. Opening it, Rogue let out a gasp. "Is this . . . ? Where did ya git this?"
Remy gave a slight smile. "I've had it since I was twelve. It was m' first 'job'. Henri told me if I got, I could start trainin'. I nevea knew it was a locket. Den when y' were describin' it . . . I found our picture inside." He stared, worried about her silence. "Marie?"
"I knew ya looked familiar!" She proclaimed in an excited voice. "I saw someone runnin' away an' I knew they looked familiar."
"Y' not mad?"
"What's there ta be mad 'bout? Ya didn' know it was mine an' I didn' know ya took it." She grinned and gave him a quick hug. "This was the best present I got today."
And dis is m' best present, thought Remy, his arms wrapped tightly around her.
The next few months passed in a blur at the mansion. As the union between two of its occupants neared, Xavier's Institute For Gifted Youngsters bustled with more energy and activity than usual. As everything else that took place there, the Big Day was bound to be interesting . . .
Invited guests made a small portion of the crowd gathered on the front lawn. The majority of the guests was everyone from the mansion. Logan, having no family, and Ororo, having little family, decided to simply forego a huge event and celebrate their special day with friends.
Remy sat towards the back, sandwiched between his Tante Mattie and Rogue, who was clutching his hand tightly. He glanced at her, once again entranced by her beauty. The jade colored dress suited her perfectly. A sheer, black shawl covered her bare shoulders and upper arms, the rest covered by black, elbow-length gloves. Remy noticed Henri give him an knowing smirk above Rogue's head as the older LeBeau placed an arm around his very pregnant wife.
When Ororo informed Remy that she had invited his family because she and his father were like siblings, he was nervous. He didn't want to admit it, but he desperately hoped his family would like Rogue. To Remy's delight, his family adored her. His father and brother had both kissed her hand, complimenting her beauty, making her blush. Merci had given Remy a conspiratorial wink as she was introduced, commenting that the pair reminded her of herself and Henri.
Tante Mattie was ecstatic to see Rogue again. She babble on about how she was sorry she missed Irene's funeral, but she had come to pay her respects and was appalled at the town's derogatory talk about Rogue and Raven. "Gave 'em a piece o' m' mind f'r I left an' I bet de idiots choked on it," She had said, earning a shy grin and a thank you from Rogue.
Hours later, the reception was in full swing. Music was provided by a boom box, randomly switching CD's courtesy of Jean, as everyone congregated on cemented area around the pool. The clear water cast a bluish, ethereal glow on the whole area.
As Jean-Luc danced with Ororo, Henri danced with Tante Mattie and the X-girls, Rogue included, tried to convince Logan to dance with Ororo, Remy found himself keeping Merci company as she elevated her swollen ankles and rubbed her swollen belly.
"Y' should really tell her how y' feel. 'M tellin' y' dat as une plus vieille soeur, Remy."
Remy scrunched up his nose, blatantly ignoring the first half of the sentence, and said, "Between y' an' me, I had a crush on y' when I was thirteen. After some o' dose dreams, I don' t'ink I'll evea be able t' t'ink o' y' as a sister."
Elbowing him, the Cajun woman grinned. "Flatterin' as dat is, I know it's not me y' pinin' f'r now."
"So?"
"So why don' y' tell her? It's obvious t' everyone except y' two."
"Dat's what John said," Mumbled Remy.
"Smart guy. What did I say?" Merci stared in confusion as her brother-in-law broke into peals of laughter.
Several songs later found Merci dancing with her husband, the bride and groom dancing, and Remy feeling extremely awkward as he sat by himself. That is, until a gloved hand tapped his shoulder a beckoned him to follow.
Sitting side by side on the porch swing staring at the moon, something that they had become known for doing, Rogue clutched her locket as the lyrics of the music reached them. "I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you."
Resting her head on Remy's shoulder, Marie placed her hand onto on his. "Hey, Remy? Do ya think it was all coincidence? Living next door, ya takin' my necklace, us meetin' again at Caldacott, then here? I mean, seein' each other again once is surprisin', but all this . . . ? Did we just luck out or somethin'?"
"Actually," said Remy, intertwining their fingers, "I like t' t'ink it's destiny, cherie."
Rogue's heart sped up inside her chest. "It could be years before I can touch," She whispered.
"Y'r worth de wait," He said kissing her gloved hand. "Y' always have been."
She grinned and placed a lightning quick kiss on his lips. His vision swam momentarily and he felt slightly tired, but he really didn't care. He smiled back as her eyes glowed slightly, reminiscent of his own. "Well then, we'll just have ta hope destiny gets us over this last hurdle, and soon."
Remy laughed and silently prayed that destiny would work her magic again, whenever she felt ready. After all, it took them twelve years to get this far, what was a few more?
I set out on a narrow way many years ago
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you
Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
-Rascal Flatts "The Broken Road"
The end. We shared some laughs, ALOT of angst, and some romance. Now share your thoughts.
There are so many people I would like to personally thank for sticking with me through writer's block and months without updates. But because we are forbidden from replying to reviews now (such a stupid rule) I'll do it this way: Thanks to each and everyone of you that ever reviewed my story, and even to those who read but didn't review. It was because of you guys this story ever got finish. Honestly, if you guys hadn't have seemed so interested, I would have stopped after chapter four out of pure frustration. Thanks for pushing me to finish. Love you all!
Takimi