Italics are flashbacks.
Chapter 12
Before anybody knew it they were on a plane to New Orleans for the second competition this year. Rogue and Remy had been an official couple since the Lensherr Company Party. Kitty was getting stressed because the wedding was only a little over two months away and there were still a lot of things to get done.
Everybody was a little tense about this competition. It was going to be twice as big as the one they went to in New York. Betsy and Warren were going to compete in the intermediate category while Lexa and Pietro had decided to compete in the amateur. Ororo had decided to stay behind so that the studio could stay open at least part-time.
The girls were once again discussing plans for the wedding and the guys were trying their best to stay out of it.
"Come on Warren, I want another guy's opinion on this center piece for the wedding party's table. Piotr says that he likes this one better then the other one I picked out. What do you think?"
"I think that I want to stay out of this discussion because it will only cause problems in the long run. I think I am going to join Remy's group and play some cards."
"Coward!" Piotr called out as Warren got up and ran away. He would have loved to join them but he didn't think Kitty would let him get away.
Having heard his friend's tone John decided to step in and help him. "I know what you should do sheila. You should have a fire theme. We could put little mini fireplaces on all the tables and have a huge fire at both ends of the reception hall. Oh, all the girls could wear red gowns and all the guys could wear red shirts with black pants that have flames coming up them. What do you think?"
"I think that you are nuts. Why don't you go play with the other boys?" Kitty said with a glare in John's direction.
"No, I like it here. I have some really good ideas for the wedding that I think you should hear about."
"Katya, I will help you out and personally escort John back to the card game." Piotr offered when he finally got what John was trying to do.
"Thanks Pete. I don't think it would be productive to have a fire obsessed Aussie sitting around giving us crazy ideas."
As John and Piotr walked away Wanda turned to Kitty and said, "You know he isn't coming back right?"
"Yeah, I know. I was kinda hoping that he would leave for a little bit. I wanted to go over some plans for the honeymoon with you guys."
"Oh, no! Ah am not picking out your sex clothes Kitty!" Rogue said while looking around for some excuse to leave.
"I'm not asking you to help me pick out lingerie," Kitty said while rolling her eyes. There was a collective sigh of relief that came from all the girls when she said that. "You all know that Pete likes to paint when he has some extra time right?" Everybody nodded at this. "OK, well there is this art gallery that is looking for novice painters to display their art. The show is going to be going on while we are down there on our honeymoon and I thought that getting some of his artwork displayed would be wedding present to him. What do you think?"
"That sounds like a really sweet idea Kitty," Betsy agreed. "But what do you need our help with?"
"Well, I was hoping you guys would help me pick out which artwork to send down and then distract him so that I can get it shipped out. I'm only allowed to send three paintings and I love all of them so much that I need help narrowing down the ten I have in mind to just three."
"Sure luv, we can help you with this. Piotr is going to love this."
Everybody nodded their agreement until Lexa pointed out, "How are you going to explain why there are three painting missing from his collection?"
"He stores most of them in a spare room so if I rearrange them some he shouldn't know that they are missing."
"Alright. When are we going to do it?"
"A week after we get back."
They continued their discussion about the wedding until the plane landed. Gathering their luggage they went to the hotel to get settled in. Tomorrow started the competition and everyone was already tense. "How about we go out and get some supper and take in a show?" Wanda suggested after everyone was settled in.
"That sounds like fun," Kitty said.
"Remy and ah are will go to supper but Remy wants to show me the sights afterward."
Everybody smiled at the happy couple. They had never seen Rogue this happy. The Sunday after the party Joseph had once again showed up at Rogue's apartment.
Rogue and Remy arrived back at her apartment so that she could pick up a few things. Remy had talked her into spending a few days at his house with him. As they walked up to the door they noticed that Joseph was just getting ready to knock. "Joseph what the hell are you doing here?" Rogue questioned startling the man standing in front of her door.
"I came to make sure that you were alright. I figured you would be a little upset when you found out about Remy's past. I can see though that he either didn't tell you or didn't tell you everything."
"No he told me all about it. Ah just don't think that his past mistakes should brand him for the rest of his life. He's not the same man anymore, he's changed and ah love him and ah'm going to stand by him."
Joseph glared at Remy and growled out, "What type of lies did you fill her head with? If she knew the truth there is no way that she would still be with you." With this he lunged at Remy. He punched him in the jaw causing Remy to stumble backwards before he regained his balance. Retaliating Remy attacked Joseph. They two fought in the hallway until the cops showed up. They both were handcuffed and drug out of the building and taken down to the police station. Rogue had run in to get some help from the girls and they went down to bail Remy out. When they arrived they found the cop in charge of the case and told him what happened. They still had to pay a fine to get Remy out since he was part of disturbing the peace but they were able to get Joseph detained for bodily harm towards Remy and a restraining order to keep him away from Rogue.
Since that Sunday Remy and Rogue had spent as much time together as possible without ignoring their friends. "Taking a tour of New Orleans sounds like fun but I think that I would rather do it in daylight. Aren't you worried about thieves?" Kitty asked the couple as they headed to the restaurant. Rogue and Remy looked at each other and smiled. Kitty had a feeling she was missing something but shrugged and went on like nothing had happened. "Just don't forget that Lexa and Pietro dance tomorrow morning and then Betts and Warren dance tomorrow evening."
"Don't worry, we'll be there," Rogue assured her friend as they set down at the table. They enjoyed true New Orleans style food and drink. By the time it was time for the group to head out and go their separate ways they were all a little tipsy from the strong bourbon they had had with dinner. With the exception of Remy of course since he was more then a little use to it.
Remy took Rogue on a tour of all the places that he had frequented when he was younger. She found that a lot of them were bars and each time they entered one to say hello to the bar tender Remy was swarmed with girls demanding to know where he had been and why he never called them. Each time he gave Rogue a sheepish grin before introducing the girls to his girlfriend. He was glad that his father had allowed him to come back for the competition. He had been afraid that if his father hadn't agreed that he would have to deal with the assassins and their wrath for killing Julian. As they entered into one of the shops run by a family member Remy thought that he saw a familiar figure with blonde hair walk by. Shaking his head and dismissing the idea they walked into the clothing shop.
The shop was run by Merci who had married Remy's brother Henri. Remy introduced Rogue to Merci and the two got to talking. He couldn't believe how quickly the two took to each other but he was glad. He wanted Rogue to like his family and vice versa if he was going to make her a permanent addition to it. Heading towards the back where he was told that Henri was Remy saw the bald head of his brother.
"Henri, get over here and give your little frère a hug."
Henri glanced up when Remy called out and ran over to give him a hug. "What brings you back down here? I tought dat you were told never to return?"
"Oui, I was but my femme is a dancer and I am her partner and we have a competition here this weekend."
"You've got a femme? Dat's not a big surprise."
"Hey, Rogue is important and a lot different den any other femme I've ever met."
Henri quirked and eyebrow. "So you are serious about dis one den?" When Remy nodded Henri gave a sigh, "It's not going to be easy but if you are serious she has to meet Tante Mattie or you will get it."
"Dat is what I needed to talk to you about. Can you arrange a meeting for us?"
"Dere's a big to-do tonight so right now would work. Let me get Merci to close down de shop so we can take you out dere safely."
"Merci. I owe you one."
"Actually you owe me a lot because, since you seem to have forgotten, I help you escape N'Awlins when everyone else wanted to kill you."
"Oui, Remy knows. Just let him know when you decide what I owe you."
"Still haven't completely gotten rid of de annoying habit of talking in de t'ird person, eh?"
"Non and probably never will." Remy smiled at his brother as he walked with him out to the front of the store.
When Rogue saw the big house sitting back from the road she couldn't believe that Remy had grown up there. As they pulled up to the house a guard stepped out and stopped the car. Henri exchanged a couple of words with the guard before driving the rest of the way to the house.
They all got out and headed to the house. They had just entered the front hall when a big black woman walked in from the kitchen. When she saw Remy she pulled him into a big bear hug. "Chile what on earth are you doing here?"
"Remy wanted you to meet his girlfriend and Henri said dat tonight would be a good night to do it."
"Well, introduce me then boy."
Remy took a step back and put his arm around Rogue's shoulders and pulled her forward. "Tante, dis is Rogue."
"Hello, ma'am." Rogue said softly. She wasn't sure what is was about this woman but she seemed to demand respect without actually saying anything.
"Don't you ma'am me now. If you are going to be part of this family then you had better call me Tante just like everyone else around here."
Rogue looked taken aback for a minute. "What do you mean 'if ah'm going to be part of this family'?"
"Well now chile Remy's never brought a femme home before so you must be pretty important to him. Now everybody come into the kitchen these two look like they haven't eaten in days."
Rogue looked at Remy before following Tante into the kitchen. She had a feeling it wouldn't work to argue with the woman. When they were all settled at the table with some cake and coffee Tante starting questioning Rogue and Remy about what they were doing in New Orleans and what they had been up to before that. Remy answered most of the questions since Rogue seemed to have gotten shy since they walked into the kitchen.
When Tante couldn't get Rogue to talk much she shooed the boys out of the kitchen and told them not to come back until asked because they were going to have some girl talk. With the guys gone she turned back to Rogue, "Alright chile, what is eating you? You've barely said two words since you got here."
"Nothing is wrong Tante. Ah guess ah was just trying to digest what you said in the front hall."
"And now you've had time so what do you think about it? I don't want you hurting my boy."
"Ah won't hurt him Tante. In fact ah would like very much to be part of this family."
Tante smiled at her and gave her a big hug. "Now the hard part is going to be waiting for Remy to pop the question." With that said Tante sent Merci to get some of the books that they used for her wedding. They spent the rest of the night giving Rogue advice on wedding dresses and other details for the wedding. Despite the fact that she wasn't engaged yet Rogue had to admit that she had a lot of fun. 'I'm going to like being part of this family even if they are thieves by trade.' Rogue thought as her and Remy headed back to the hotel.
XxX
Next chapter is part one of the competition with Lexa, Pietro, Betsy, and Warren. The chapter after the that will be the next to last chapter and the last chapter will be Kitty's wedding. Now I have to go get ready to go see "Take the Lead." :-) Hope you enjoyed that chapter.