Chapter 2 A master thief?
A few days later Remy was wailing, Jean-Luc winced at how loud he could cry as he rocked him in his arms and tried to calm him even Tante couldn't get him to quiet down, suddenly becoming a bit worried she called Alex.
When he arrived he tried to listen to the boy's heart and lungs but found it a bit difficult as he continued to cry, "We need ta calm dis one down first…mon dieu he got powerful lungs…" Alex chuckled.
"Dat he does…" Jean-Luc sighed, then had an idea and looked to Alex, "Dat ting work under water?" he asked.
Alex looked at him confused as Jean-Luc led the man in the bathroom, Jean-Luc stripped down Remy and was filling the sink with lukewarm water he poured a little liquid soap in the water Remy continued to cry until he was placed in the water, where he looked around at the bubbles and whimpered a bit watching as Jean-Luc splashed the water. "Bettah hurry…by da look on his face I don' tink dis gonna last long…" he smirked.
"Well dat's bettah isn't it?" Alex chirped at the sudden silence and placed the end of the stethoscope on the baby's chest so he could listen to his heart and lungs.
After a few minutes Remy began crying again, Alex sighed as he watched Jean-Luc wrap him in a towel, "Tink he has a little colic…he should be alright…" he answered rubbing the baby's back. "I'll go tell Mattie…" he smirked.
"Merci Alex…" Jean-Luc spoke up as he dressed Remy again and headed downstairs, Tante gently took the baby from his arms and sat in the recliner with a warm bottle, as he drank its contents he looked and listened to Tante as she sang him a tune.
XxXxX
A few months later Jean-Luc was sitting on the floor leaning against the antique sofa bed, papers strewn about reading what was in his hands not noticing four men watching him at the office entrance, "Jean-Luc?" one of them spoke up, "Why ya sittin on da floor?" he asked.
Jean-Luc looked up and chuckled as he leaned down and looked under the sofa, Remy had crawled under it and was apparently staying out of reach from his father at the moment as he looked around and chewed on a plush toy, Jean-Luc had laid a blanket under the sofa and was waiting until Remy crawled on it so he could pull him out, "Oh Remy be misbehaving…" he smirked as he reached for a file and opened it reading it's contents.
The thieves snickered two of them kneeled down to look under the sofa while the other two laid down on their stomachs and snorted, all five men looked up when they heard a chuckle, "My, my only eight months old and look he already got ya'll crawling on ya hands an knees…" Tante quipped as she looked to Jean-Luc, "You telling me ya didn't get that little one out from under dere yet?"
"Nope…" Jean-Luc smirked as he peeked back under the couch, Remy didn't seem to want to budge he was content at the moment to stay where he was. Jean-Luc shook his head and looking through another folder he scribbled down a few notes on a piece of paper and handed the folder to one of the men, who chuckled when Remy began babbling and giggled. Jean-Luc looked down, "What ya doin'?" he asked.
Remy simply giggled and chewed on his stuffed toy.
XxXxX
That night Jean-Luc sighed as he was beginning to get a migraine since Mattie had been called out to an emergency a few houses down the street, Jean-Luc didn't have anyone to look after Remy and so had moved the meeting to his house. He leaned back in his chair trying to calm his little boy while the other elders argued.
Henri couldn't help but chuckle at the look on his father's face. "Can you believe dis?" Jean-Luc asked Remy and sighed as he looked to the dozen men and women in the room, "Alright, alright al-right…" he called out getting their attention, "…mon dieu no need ta shout if ya'll hadn't noticed dis be a small room…" Jean-Luc sighed as he looked to Remy who began to fuss a little, "Dey make more noise den you do…" he quipped sitting the boy in his lap and bouncing him on his knee.
"Alright bottom line we might have a few leads to Annie's murder…" one of the leaders spoke up, "We still be looking into it…"
Jean-Luc quirked an eye, "Still loo…Ah Lord…" he sighed closing his eyes for a moment, "It's already been two months…" he spoke calmly leaning back in his chair and propping his feet on a small cabinet beside his desk. Turning Remy to lie on his stomach Jean-Luc wrapped his arms around the baby who lifted his head and looked around at the different voices he heard.
Jean-Luc patted his back and watched as Remy lowered his head to his chest and listened to his heart beat. "With all due respect Jean-Luc does the child need to be here?" another elder asked.
Jean-Luc rolled his eyes and smirked, "Yes he does da boy doesn't go to sleep for another three hours…" he answered sipping his wine, "Besides ya'll make so much noise ya can't expect da petite ta sleep through all dat racket …" he chuckled as Remy gurgled in reply and played with his father's shirt, Jean-Luc looked down, "Ya not gonna start eatin' my shirt again are ya?" he asked laying a soft kiss on top of the boy's head.
Henri chuckled as he pulled out Remy's bag and took out a few things standing up he laid a small teddy bear beside Remy and stuck a pacifier in his mouth, "Where's Mattie?" the same elder asked.
"Three houses down Mrs. Jacob went inta labor and Tante be da midwife, ya can go try and drag her back here though I wouldn't recommend it homme…" Jean-Luc smirked as the men chuckled. "Don't know why ya be complainin' da chile stayed quiet the entire time ya be here," he sighed as he urged the meeting to continue.
That night after rocking Remy to sleep and feeding him a bottle, Jean-Luc put him into his crib. Turning on a night light Jean-Luc silently left the boy's room and closed the door.
He grinned when he met Mattie at the door, "So who won da pool?" he asked taking her coat.
"No one, she gave birth to twins so it doesn't count…" she smiled, "Two girls…" she continued. "And how'sour little angel?"
"Amazingly he behaved himself…" Jean-Luc chuckled.
"Ah and I miss it…mon dieu how come dat boy always gets mischievous when I'm around…I'd love ta see him be sweet for once…" she sighed.
XxXxX
A month later in Jean-Luc's office, Henri sighed as he sat in a chair, he smirked when he heard Remy babbling in a corner glancing over at his little brother as he played with a few toys and crawled on a blanket. Looking back to what he was doing Henri marked down a few weak spots from the schematics he was studying then frowned a bit when Remy was actually quiet, looking up his eyes widened as he noticed Remy crawl to the sofa and grasping the sides he lifted himself up, "Père…" he whispered.
"Hold on a minute…" Jean-Luc sighed as he was sitting at his desk pouring over a mountain of papers and wrote down something in a folder.
"Père…" Henri spoke again and threw a pillow at him.
"What?" Jean-Luc sighed as he carefully took the pillow off his desk and threw it back at his eldest son.
"Remy…" he pointed to the little boy as he held himself up on the sofa.
Jean-Luc chuckled as he quickly stood and kneeled down on the ground, "Come 'ere Remy…" he grinned, Remy looked to his father as he had called his name, "Come on…" he continued to coax waving his hands forward, Remy giggled and bounced around as he turned to Jean-Luc the moment he released the sofa though he fell to the floor, now excited he crawled to his father who laughed and lifted him up, "Ya almost walked…" he cheered kissing him on the cheek and twirling him around. Then putting him on his feet he led him to Henri who chuckled and lifted him in his chair tickling him mercilessly.
XxXxX
A few days later Henri had decided to take his brother for a walk carrying him downstairs after his nap and from being changed, Remy whimpered and complained as he was still teething, Henri sighed as he headed to the fridge and took out a cold teething ring, putting it in Remy's hands he watched as the little boy put it in his mouth and began chewing on it, "Dat better?" he asked, Henri chuckled as he then grabbed a backpack and headed outside. Walking down the street to a nearby park Henri sat down on a bench, sitting Remy beside him, Remy looked around at all the trees and people walking around he suddenly winced and began crying as the clouds floated away revealing the sun, Henri frowned and looked down, "Ah merde…" he sighed as he looked through his bag, finding a hat he placed it on Remy's head. "Dere dat better?" he asked running his index finger on the baby's cheek.
"Oh what an adorable little baby…" he heard and looked forward at the three women who began to coo at Remy. "Is he your son?" the red head asked.
"Eh non…he be mon petit frère…" he chuckled as Remy seemed to get excited at the new people before him.
The pretty little brunette kneeled down and grasped the baby's hands, "Oh you a cute one aren't you what's your name?" she asked. The red head and the blonde were about to do the same until they noticed that something wasn't right with the child and telling their friend that they should leave right now. The brunette looked up, "Why?"
"Mercy come on…" the red head pressed not liking the look in Henri's eyes since he knew why they were so intent on leaving. Henri rolled his eyes at the pathetic excuse of human beings before him.
"Look if ya don't like mutants dat's your problem, I think he's cute…yes you are…yes you are…you want to leave go ahead…" Mercy answered simply as she gently shook the baby's hands. She then looked to Henri, "What's his name?"
Henri looked at her and chuckled, "Remy…"
"Well hello Remy…I'm Mercy…" she cooed glaring at her friends as they walked away, "Sorry about them…" she apologized.
"It's alright…" Henri smirked, "Some people…" he sighed shaking his head in disgust, then looked to Remy as he began to cry, "What ya crying bout now?" he chuckled as he sat him in his lap then looked at his watch. "Who'd a thought you being hungry again…" he smirked and looked around spotting a tree Henri stood and grabbed his backpack.
"Oh you're not leaving are you?" Mercy pouted.
"Non…need some shade, his eyes are a bit sensitive to da light…name's Henri by da way…" he chuckled as he led the way towards the tree and sat down, Mercy followed and sat beside him.
Henri smirked as he took out a thermos which held a warm bottle of formula and proceeded to feed his little brother, he frowned when he received a call and looked around then chuckled as he looked to Mercy, "Oh ya sure…had ta call when my hands are full…Eh could ya maybe answer dat fo me?" he asked with a grin. "Da moment I take dis bottle out of his mouth he'll start complainin', fussin' and screamin'" he chuckled.
Mercy laughed as she took his cell from his belt and answered, "'ello?"
A long pause could be heard, "Who is dis?" the man on the other end demanded.
"Oh I'm sorry hold on…" Mercy laughed as she placed the phone to Henri's ear.
"'ello?" Henri smirked.
"Who da hell was dat…nevah mind where's Remy, where are you…"
"Pè…père calm down he's in my arms an being fed we be in da park a few minutes from home, told ya I was goin' out wit him calm down…" Henri sighed, after assuring his father that everything was alright Henri smirked when he hung up his cell and patted Remy on the back.
"I take it ya père be very protective?" Mercy asked leaning against the tree.
"Extremely…we be havin a shitty year…" he whispered holding onto Remy tightly and kissing the side of his head.
"That bad?"
"Oh yeah…" Henri sighed and closed his eyes for a moment resting his chin on top of Remy's head as he babbled away and played with his brother's sleeve.
"Are you okay?" Mercy asked seeing how sad Henri seemed at the moment.
"I'll be fine…could we maybe change da subject?" he asked with a tiny smile.
"Yeah sure…" she grinned.
After talking for a few hours Henri lost track of time, glancing at his watch he winced, "Whoa…Tante gonna be mad at me…" he smirked, "Need ta get this little one home…" he chuckled seeing how tired Remy was at the moment as he shouldered his backpack.
Mercy quickly stood, "Hey um am I gonna see you again…I mean…eh…"
Henri chuckled as he walked up to her and took out a pen, "Here's my cell number…" he whispered writing his number in her palm. "Call me later?"
"Absolutely…" she grinned and watched as he walked away.
The moment he arrived home he began his little search to find his father, entering the kitchen he snorted as his father was leaning against the counter drinking a glass of wine, "Told ya he be alright…jus went fo a little air…" Henri smirked as he placed his brother in his father's awaiting arms in doing so he smiled at the relieved look on Jean-Luc's face as he sat at the table and held Remy close to his chest. Remy giggled as he grasped his father's cheeks and began to squeal in delight. "Ya do know I ain't gonna let no one hurt him right, I have been well trained remember?"
"So was ya mère…" he answered then shook his head and took a breath, "Sorry…I'm just not ready ta back off on da overprotection yet…" Jean-Luc sighed as he kissed Remy's cheek.
"It's been three months père…" Henri whispered bowing his head a bit.
"Not yet not until da one dat killed ya mère be found…" Jean-Luc frowned then stood up and headed upstairs to put Remy to bed.
XxXxX
A month had passed and Henri couldn't help but chuckle as he silently entered his house with a brunette on his arm, "Shhh…" Henri smirked as he tried to keep Mercy quiet he held his breath when Mattie left her kitchen to see what all the racket was about, a small smile was on her lips as she spotted the woman behind Henri.
"Henri Paul LeBeau who be dat pretty little thing on your arm?" she asked quirking an eye and trying to hide a wicked smile.
"Eh…dis is Mercy Beaulieu…" he answered then turned to Mercy, "Dis be Tante Mattie…she pretty much cares for everyone on da street…" he chuckled.
"It's a pleasure ta meet you…" Mercy grinned as she took a few steps forward, Tante chuckled and eyed her over, Mercy quirked an eye at the gesture.
"Well now I see what ya be braggin about…" she smirked seeing Henri blush a little, "It's a pleasure as well chère…Hmmm…" Tante smiled as she looked to Henri, "…now don't ya mess dis one up Henri she be a keeper…" she grinned, Merci couldn't help but laugh at how Henri lowered his head in embarrassment,
"Oh my look at dat blush…" Tante continued,
"Tante …" Henri frowned a bit silently telling her to please keep quiet.
"Oh come now Henri it's not like I be tellin' this pretty little one about how…"
"Wait…wait…before ya start with ya little stories on how I grew up being sick and getting rashes and all…." Henri sighed as he stepped forward and kissed Mattie on the cheek, then turned to Mercy and did the same, "Alright now chères…" he gestured for them to continue talking, "While ya discussin dat…I'm gonna go hang myself now…"
"Oh stop it we jus playin'…an don' ya start talkin' bout death in dis house…" she scolded.
"Sorry Tante…" Henri bowed his head a moment then looked back up.
"Ya père be in his office…" Mattie smiled and shooed them away.
Mercy chuckled as Henri led her in the hall, "Okay I really like her…" she quipped. "Did she lose someone dear to her?" she asked.
"We all did ma mère passed 'bout four months ago…"
"Oh I'm so sorry…" Mercy whispered laying a hand on his arm.
Henri waved off her sympathy, "Père took it really hard, if it hadn't been for Remy…" he broke off his train of thought there, "Anyway…Everyone likes Tante just don't get her angry…" he laughed.
"How do you get her angry?"
"Try hurting her babies or telling her off…guarantee ya'll regret it da moment ya do…" he smirked as he peeked in his father's office.
"Speaking of babies…where's Remy?" Mercy grinned.
Henri chuckled as he nodded towards the room, Mercy peeked in and smiled Jean-Luc was sitting on one of the sofas with Remy tucked between his left arm and side, telling him a little story about a troll, a bridge and a thief, Remy always liked hearing about the thief, he smiled and giggled when Jean-Luc tickled under the boy's chin. "Whatcha laughin' at I didn't get to da good part yet…" Jean-Luc smirked then noticed movement at the door, looking up he quirked an eye as he watched Henri slowly enter. Eyeing him over Jean-Luc sighed, "What happened?" he asked with a small smile as he patted Remy's left leg.
"Nothin…" Henri answered plainly.
"Right…ya got dat look in ya eye…"
"Nothin happened I just wanted ya ta meet someone…" he smirked leaning against the doorframe.
"Well bring dat someone in here…" Jean-Luc chuckled then leaned down to Remy. "Tink ya frère got a few screws loose…" he smirked lifting the baby to his chest, and laughed when he heard Henri drawl out 'I heard dat...' Jean-Luc chuckled as he stood up with Remy still in his arms. His eyes widened a bit when his eldest son pulled on an arm and led a woman in the room, "Oh so you must be da reason why Henri keeps getting distracted?" he chuckled.
"If he does I apologize right now…" Mercy grinned.
"Oh ha ha…Père dis be Mercy Beaulieu…Mercy dis Jean-Luc LeBeau…"
"It's a pleasure to meet you…" she smiled shaking his hand.
"Likewise chère…" Jean-Luc smirked when Remy squealed and began babbling.
"Hi Remy…" she cooed grasping his hands and shaking them.
Jean-Luc chuckled at the sight Remy leaned forward and began babbling reaching out for Mercy's hair, "Ey don' ya star misbehavin'…" he grinned as he lifted Remy in the air and rested him against his shoulder, "What say we move dis little visit in da livin' room…" Jean-Luc smirked as he followed Henri and Mercy out of his office.
After settling down in the living room, Jean-Luc placed Remy on a blanket on the floor in the middle of the room, as he, Tante, Henri and Mercy laughed and talked. An hour had passed and Henri was now sitting on the floor playing with Remy, Tante was sitting comfortably doing a little knitting as she listened to the conversation, Mercy looked at the pictures adorning the walls and tables, one caught her eye as it sat on the table beside her, Jean-Luc smirked as he watched her wondering if she was going to ask whom the woman in the picture was.
A small smile was on her lips as she turned to the sudden silence in the room, locking eyes with Jean-Luc she quickly looked down, "Her name was Annie…she be Henri's mère…"
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to…"
"Oh non…it's alright…" he assured.
Mercy suddenly frowned, "Wait…just Henri's what about Remy?"
Jean-Luc chuckled, "Oh Remy be adopted…I found im two days aftah Annie died…"
"Found him?"
Jean-Luc slowly nodded, "Apparently some people don' like givin' birth to a mutant…and keepin' it…" he sighed.
Immediately understanding what he meant, Mercy's jaw dropped, "Okay I don't think I want to hear the rest of this story…I might try and track down the parents and kick some sense in them…" she informed the LeBeau clan who began laughing. "Mon dieu…he's just a baby…" she frowned looking at the ten month old who was crawling away from Henri at the moment, Henri grinned as he flipped him on his back and pulled him back making the little onyx eyes mutant giggle with glee.
"Oh come now all of ya calm down…Remy be in a good home now…" Tante smirked, "Besides he keeps those two on their toes…" she chuckled.
Remy yawned and began rubbing at his eyes, beginning to whimper a little Jean-Luc looked at the clock and smirked as he stood and headed for the kitchen, while Tante put away her knitting, "Mon dieu…hungry again?" she cooed, Henri chuckled as he picked up his little brother and handed him to Tante, who began rocking him and hummed him a little tune, a few moments later Jean-Luc arrived with a bottle and handed it to Tante.
Remy's eyes seemed to grow double their size as he saw the bottle immediately reaching out for it.
After being fed Jean-Luc held his baby boy in his arms and walked upstairs to change him, Remy looked around and began to babble, "Well ya one ta talk…what ya sayin' anyway?" he asked his little boy who giggled as he placed him on the changing table, "Ya like Mercy?" he asked as he opened the snaps on the pants and took off the soiled diaper then proceeded in cleaning him up, Remy only babbled and chewed on his fingers as an answer, Jean-Luc frowned a bit as he looked at the little tyke with a mock glare snapping up the buttons, Jean-Luc smirked. "Thought I told ya not ta chew on ya fingers…" he chuckled lifting Remy in the air then lowered him until their eyes met and blew raspberries on his cheeks making the little boy giggle.
XxXxX
Several months later Remy was now 17 months old and sitting in a wagon with his 19 month old cousin Lapin they looked around curiously as they were being pulled by Jean-Luc and Jacques, "Ech…I be dyin' for un café…" Jacques whined as he looked behind them to check on the boys.
"Yeah no kiddin'…" Jean-Luc yawned as he stopped the wagon beside the entrance of their favorite coffee shop, "Alright treat time…" he smirked as he lifted Remy in his arms, while Jacques held Lapin.
Entering the coffee shop, Jean-Luc watched as Remy's eyes grew big as he spotted all the treats imprisoned behind the glass in front of him, "Mon Dieu…look at dose eyes…" Jean-Luc chuckled as he kissed his son on the cheek as he made his way to the counter, "Alright let ya père guess…hmmm something chocolate right?" he chuckled.
After spending the day with the boys, both fathers were in a word exhausted. Who knew chasing around two hyperactive little boys in the park was so tiring.
Jean-Luc chuckled as he held his son against his shoulder entering the house he made his way upstairs, Remy was already half asleep, but since he was extremely dirty Jean-Luc wanted to give him a bath first before laying him down for a much deserved nap and knowing he wouldn't be able to wash him without complaint. Jean-Luc snorted when he looked in the mirror, "Mon dieu…how'd ya manage dat?" he asked himself he was as dirty as Remy was. "Well no use fighting it petite…you an me need ta take a bath…" he sighed as he filled the tub with water and poured in some liquid soap.
Now stripped down Remy whined and cried out since he wanted to sleep at the moment, Jean-Luc chuckled when he picked him up and held his son to his chest kissing his temple, quieting down the little tyke. Leaning back in the tub Jean-Luc watched as his son slept on his chest while he washed him.
Jean-Luc rubbed the boy's back as he slowly closed his eyes a smirk crossed his lips, "Hn…ya know ya actually tired me out petite an ya not even two years old yet…I wonder…" he chuckled, "What ya gonna be like when ya older?" he asked the sleeping LeBeau and looking down Jean-Luc brushed his hand on the boy's cheek and kissed the top of his head a grin crossed his lips as he thought of his little one becoming a master thief.