(Four)
Gambit made his way into the Med Bay and paused in front of the holding cells. His day had been a long and blurry nightmare. He had spent the morning reading, always taxing, only to have the rest of the day jammed up in endless meetings. He didn't know what was worse - the ache in his leg or the horrible tedium of having to remain in one place for so long. While he understood the importance of what Scott was trying to do, Remy was being torn, forced to offer input for Scott's plans while his mind was here in the Lab. All he could think of was Kimble and Aiden. Once freed and allowed to return here, it seemed some of that worry was justified.
Aiden's holding cell was conspicuously empty.
A quick glance showed that Kimble at least was still in place. He saw Kimble's globe within it, the crystal of the sphere twinkling softly in the half light. Beside it lay a lopsided teddy bear, one of Angel's favorites. Even a visit from his daughter had failed to rouse Kimble from his slumber. It sent a sharp stab of pain through Remy's heart.
But the other cell was empty. Damn.
Gambit wasted no time in finding Henry. "Where's Aiden at?"
Beast tried to calm him, offering a warm smile. "Logan released him while you were gone. Said he had no reason to hold him."
" 'E was talkin'?"
"Yes. He seemed fine and asked to be released. Why?"
"An' Logan let 'im walk out jus' like dat? Where 'xactly was Aiden supposed to go? Babette kill 'erself at 'is place."
Henry had nothing to say to that.
Gambit sighed impatiently and opened his cell phone. He dialed Aiden's place and of course got no answer. He turned and shuffled out, leaving Henry a little bewildered. He made his way down to Aiden's tiny apartment, cursing his damaged leg the whole way, and saw Max was still at the door. "Bonjour, Max. De boy still inside?"
"Yeah. He's been real quiet."
"Get yo' boss on de phone. Tell 'im I'm takin' Aiden down to my place. Dis boy shouldn't be all alone. You come wit me if he ask, got some beer an' pizza for ya, bien?"
Max's smile grew wide. "Yes, sir!"
Remy knocked on the door and got no answer, what a surprise. He used his key and went inside, looking around and seeing nothing amiss. Still, it was very quiet. Too quiet. He looked around a little more closely, seeing that the place was immaculate and thinking that if there ever was a sign of Kimble's presence anywhere it was this. It only added to his present pain, thinking that Kimble was no longer here. He couldn't be the only one hurting at the thought. "Aiden? You 'ere?"
No response.
He saw the bathroom light was on with the door shut. He was hit with a sudden dread and hobbled over quickly. He tapped the door open with the boot of a crutch and saw Aiden naked and curled up on the mat, shivering. The tub was filled with water gone cold hours ago. Aiden was dry, he had drawn the bath without ever going in. Remy reached down as best he could and touched Aiden's shoulder. "Hey, buddy. Where y'at?"
Aiden did not reply. His eyes were open but glazed, his cheeks shiny with the sheen of spent tears. He continued to shiver.
Remy closed his eyes and let go with as big a pulse of Kundatesh as he could manage, one filled with love and happiness. Aiden shuddered and looked up at him in confusion. He garbled something in Muzla, something Gambit didn't understand.
Remy shook his head and sat awkwardly down on the toilet, easing himself down while favoring his leg. "What you doin' in here, fils?"
Aiden sat up drunkenly and lay his head carefully in Remy's lap, mindful of the thief's injury. "Aiden wasz takin' a bat', me. Got loszt."
Gambit was struck by the deep sadness in his voice. He lay both hands on Aiden's head and began to pet him gently. "You jus' like Kim, I swear. You fight so damn hard when dere ain't no need. Come home wit me, you shouldn't be all alone."
"She wasz szo beautiful, Babette."
Remy continued to stroke Aiden's head, feeling the Siskan's grief wash over him. This Siskan had lost so very much in just a very short period of time —his Master, the man who had cared for him for over twenty years. His sisters were gone, all of the ones he had ever known. Babette's Angel child David had been torn from him as well. Now Babette had left him behind at the same time Kimble was trashed. The list seemed endless. Aiden had nothing, no one to turn to, and he had finally hit rock bottom, it was plain by the blank look of numb loss on his face. Remy spoke to him gently, speaking with honest love and caring as he said, "Yes. Babette was very special. Gambit's gonna miss 'er. How long you two know each other?"
Aiden sniffed and closed his eyes, enjoying the play of Gambit's hand on his head. In his mind numbing grief, he had temporarily forgotten his vow not to speak to this thief. All he felt now was the honesty of Remy's concern, it was soothing and something he desperately needed right now. "Abou' twenty five year. She wasz dere at Trishnar'sz when Aiden come. He szo broken, szo shatter' but she wasz not afraid. She give me 'er love, give me ze Kundatesh szo I feel ze love. Trishnar szay de Gamesz Maszter de one to szave 'isz Aiden, but she 'elp me ze moszt. 'Er and Ashair, dey my real family. Aiden luv 'er szo much, an' now she gone. Ashair is gone. Now Aiden is really alone, me," Aiden finished, fresh tears leaking from his eyes. His body convulsed with a sob he was trying to fight, but he was just so tired... so very tired.
"You not alone, mon petit fils. Not wit me an' Kim here fo' you. Come wit me," Remy insisted, tightening his grip. "Come. Stay wit me an' Molly awhile. Jus' 'til you an' Kimble all straight, s'il vous plait?"
Aiden shivered again. "I'm szo tired, me..."
"C'mon. Let's go."
Remy managed to get Aiden to his feet. He was very cold and shivering, but Remy got him moving. He gathered as many of Aiden's clothes as he could find, they were leaving here for good. Wolverine understood nothing. How could he think to let Aiden come back here after what happened? Stupid jerk. Sometimes he wondered if Logan felt anything at all.
It wasn't hard for him to gather Aiden's belongings, Aiden didn't own a whole lot and what he did have by way of clothing had been washed and stacked neatly, by Kimble's loving hand no doubt. Remy grabbed what he found and stuffed them into Aiden's backpack that was still on the tiny table. As he packed, he noticed a pile of watercolor paintings Aiden had made, new ones. The war scenes were gone, replaced by intimate pictures of Kimble lying in various poses, each one of them irresistible. It also looked like Aiden was moving on into the world of fantasy, there were some centaur pictures tossed in for good measure. There were too many to carry so Remy left them for now, vowing to come back for them.
Remy next clicked his tongue and Aiden followed him obediently like a dog. Aiden had dressed like a zombie and now shuffled behind him, his belt left undone and his boots dangling laces. He took the pack Gambit shoved at him and numbly followed him out. Gambit didn't care what the Siskan looked like, he was just happy Aiden was listening to him and doing as he was told.
They joined Max outside and made a strange trio as they walked down the hall. The disheveled Siskan, the wounded Cajun on crutches and the winged body builder. Gotta love this place. They walked along in silence, not speaking a word as they made the distance to Remy's apartment. He opened the door and escorted his new charge inside.
Molly was sitting on the couch, Angel wrapped up in a blanket next to her. Angel's tiny face was still drawn and tight, still so dreadfully pale. She perked up when she saw who had come. At first she looked at Aiden in confusion, but when he dropped his pack and straightened, revealing his Mark through his unbuttoned shirt, her face brightened immediately with recognition. She cried out loudly and with real happiness, "Aiden!"
Remy balked a little, not realizing the extent of his risk until now. These two had never met and he had given no consideration to what might happen if they did. He assumed correctly that Kimble had passed on many a pleasant tale about his new lover and friend to Angel, wanting her acceptance of Aiden no doubt. It seemed that dear Kimble need not have worried.
Angel broke away from Molly and ran over, scampering right past the thief and throwing herself into Aiden's arms as if they were old friends and not total strangers. Aiden received her without hesitation, grunting a soft laugh from the impact and dropping down to his knees to better hold her tiny body against his own. He shivered as he was blasted with the heat from her body so close and then something else.
Like David, Angel was an angel child and she was more than she seemed. Tendrils of invisible energy leaked from her and seeped into his oh, so receptive Receiver's body. He shuddered from it, feeling the great big leaden weight of his grief lift from him and die. This he had felt before, every time David had held him. It brought back memories of that love and filled him with happiness. Aiden laughed with sudden tears of joy and she laughed with him, both somehow recharged from the contact.
Remy stood by, uncertain and definitely apprehensive. He had seen the spike in both of their shines and appreciated it, but where did it come from? He could also sense Max's discomfort. Already the man was looking at him suspiciously, vibrating an unspoken accusation, / I thought you said these two didn't know each other!
For the moment, Gambit had nothing to answer Max's unspoken question, he was bewildered by all this himself. Of all the possible reactions these two could have shown to one another, this one hadn't even crossed his mind. Just the same, he wasn't moved to interfere with it, not just yet. He held up a hand, asking for patience from Max and the man obeyed, crossing his arms with checked impatience.
Aiden continued to hold Kimble's Angel, already the embrace long enough to make the others uncomfortable. He was swirling inside with mixed emotions — an intense love for her yet a deep sense of loss for the child he had lost had combined with a fierce desire to protect and keep her safe regardless of the cost.
Of course what he had never even guessed, had never even dreamed of, was that while he had never met her before now, Angel's voice was a familiar to him as an old friend. It had come to him from the darkness of his Black Room and was in nearly every dream he had been having these past months. He now knew that the voice of his special dear one, the one who had so often called for him to catch her, was none other than Kimble's special angel child. The thought of it rocked him to his core and made him hold her that much tighter.
"I'm sorry about your sister," Angel was saying, finally backing out of Aiden's embrace to look him in the eyes.
Remy was shocked even further with her words. Angel had not been told about Babette, there had been no need. Just how much did she know? He took another step forward, but Aiden was speaking.
"T'anksz, leetle one," Aiden replied, wiping at his face and trying to regain his composure.
"You came here to protect me. You're going to help my daddy."
Aiden smiled at her, filled with a revived confidence from the sight of her real and very much alive in his hands. At that moment he would have given anything to see her safe from harm, including his very life if it was required. Not since David had he felt such faith for a member of the Chuckfet, something the thought he would never feel again. He looked up at her with eyes filled with absolute adoration as he replied, " 'M gonna try. Wit all I 'ave."
"It's okay. I know you will," she said, patting him gently on his head like a pet held in the highest regard. "My daddy says you love him a lot."
"Aiden doesz."
"Well, if you love him and he loves you then I love you, too. You belong to me now."
Remy stepped forward awkwardly, regretting that a child can say such simple things without realizing their impact. She could have had no idea what such a phrase would mean to a Siskan, especially one as lonely and needy and disturbed as this one. Remy had no idea how Aiden was going to react and was ready to intercede if the Dreamer went hostile at the notion of being once more possessed.
He need not have worried. Aiden shuddered, another tear and a soft sob getting away from him. Those words had never been spoken to him with such kindness and love before. They penetrated him deep inside and found purchase, blind and total acceptance. He startled everyone by saying with a kind and gentle voice, "Zen you muszt keep Aiden forever. And 'e will keep you, alwaysz."
Angel laughed at him and kissed him. "There. Now you don't have to be sad anymore. Let's dance!"
"Aiden ain't one for dancin', leetle one," he said, unable to hide the smile that came. It wasn't exactly true, he loved to dance, but he was still very tired and feeling awkward with Max still nearby and still watching them so closely.
"It's easy! Just do this!" She tugged on him, forcing him to his feet and dragging him deeper into the room to stand in front of the stereo. She pressed a button on the tape player and playful children's music came on. She began to wiggle around and he laughed, the first one he had really felt since all this trouble began.
"It look better on you zan on me, Anjel. Mebbe Aiden jusz watch you, eh?"
"That's not as much fun. C'mon!"
Her laughter was infectious and he couldn't help himself. He managed a shake and a wiggle and she was delighted.
Remy laughed, feeling better now, but still interrupted the pair. He tapped Aiden's shoulder. "B'fore you get too carried away dere, fils. Jus' want to introduce you to Molly."
Aiden bowed at her, sweeping his rumpled hair back in a feeble attempt to look more presentable. " 'Allo. You are Remy'sz Mistreszz."
Molly laughed a little at that. She had heard the term before, but more so in terms of Fallen and Seth. She knew he meant no disrespect. On the contrary, by saying so it meant he regarded her as being very high in status. She offered him her hand and grunted softly at him.
He took her hand, reading her shine easily. Too easily. He sensed her illness immediately and reacted without thinking. He sent her a vibration of polite affection and a small sip of Morrowhiem, passed along through the intimate contact of her hand and not in a cloud that would be seen by Max, the guard.
Molly gasped softly, her eyes widening as the heat of it coursed right through her. She knew what this was of course, it was the same as when Remy touched her only much more intense. It reminded her more of when Kimble touched her that one time. She didn't mind, not at that moment. She flushed a bit, but her head cleared from the throbbing headache she had suffered with all day and her stomach settled instantly, the ache of it spontaneously gone. She recognized at once that Aiden had done this to help her, a selfless act with no intentional gain, something her gentle friend Kimble would have done if he had been able.
Aiden wasn't finished. He spoke to her twice, once with his mouth and again in a vibration she heard as clear as telepathic thought. "Aiden 'opesz you feel better, me."
She took her hand from him to speak. Thank you.
He smiled at her, not comprehending. It had looked as though she had blown him a kiss, but not exactly. He'd had no formal training in American Sign Language, there had never been any need, so he was at a bit of a loss. He could still read Molly's shine well enough to get the gist of the gesture, he saw that he had helped her and she wasn't afraid. "You are very welcome."
Molly nodded at him and he withdrew, looking up into Remy's eyes. All he saw there was gratitude. "Merci beaucoup," the thief said, pulling his wife close, grateful that she had gotten some relief, even it was from an unlikely source. He wasn't being possessive, he could see by both of their shines that Aiden's actions had not been an advance on his wife, simply a gesture of assistance.
"C'mon, Aiden!" Angel interrupted, yanking Aiden back to the music. "Dance with me!"
Aiden just laughed and indulged her, always eager to play.
Max watched all this in perplexed consternation. He wasn't sure what to make of all this - or how much should be reported. "You sure it's okay for Aiden to be here?"
"Oui, it's all just fine. Relax. 'Ave a beer." He watched as Max shrugged and let it go, then turned back to his wife to explain. "Aiden shouldn't be alone. Dat fool Logan let 'im go. He can bunk on de couch. It'll be all right."
And Max? she signed. The winged giant had already made his way to the fridge and popped a beer. He flopped down on Remy's couch and clicked on a basketball game, not caring in the least he couldn't hear a word over the music.
Remy grunted a laugh. Nothing better than a full house. "We'll break out de sleepin' bags. De floor is good enough. Better dan Aiden's hallway, n'est ce pas? We can make a little extra fo' supper. Gambit will 'elp you."
Gambit moved to the kitchen and helped Molly make another round of pizza, fooling around and playing with the food scraps. He loved her so, there were no words grand enough to describe the way he felt. He stood behind her while it cooked, wrapping his arms around her and rubbing his hands on her growing belly.
Remy could feel Aiden's Morrowhiem still shimmering inside of her and he enjoyed it himself on some basic level. The blast had been strong and he suspected it wouldn't wear off so soon. It called to him, whispering to him of how lucky he was to have her. Her love was strong, amplified to him now. He found himself compelled to look deeper, to reach out that much more.
He closed his eyes, daring to concentrate with all his will, and then it happened, he heard a voice.
/ I love you, daddy. /
He shivered with pleasure and Molly grunted at him softly in confusion. She had felt that herself, her contact with Remy bridging the gap and opening her to his world.
"Shh.. Easy, chere," he whispered to Molly softly, an automatic response to her distress, but it was the voice he was concentrating on. It was a boy, he knew this just a well as he knew the source of the voice itself.
Love you, too, petit, he sent back to his tiny offspring, unable to stop the smile.
/ Don't forget me! came another voice, this one distinctly different from the other. It was a tiny female, a sister to the first.
Remy shivered again and Molly moaned this time, covering his hands with hers.
Twins! Dere's two of dem! The thought ripped through his mind like a flame. He laughed and closed his eyes on the tears of joy that slid down his cheeks, unbidden.
Molly made a noise, a choked sound that might have been a name. Remy's intuitive mind found his answer quickly. Sandy. Her twin sister murdered long ago by their father. The memory and the loss was painful, but this was not. It had been a cry of happiness and Remy realized that this tiny girl already had a name, she would share the same name as her aunt.
Remy's arms tightened around her, shivering approval. He was much too happy to argue about anything, not now. "Je t'amie, tout le vous. All t'ree of you. Molly, Sandy, Jean Luc, all of you. Toujours."
Molly leaned against her husband, shimmery and bright. She had her girl, he had his boy, the names had been chosen. All was well. All this magic was coursing through her, making her far too warm. Not that she could resist what was happening, it was much too powerful. She had grown quite used to his power though she knew that Aiden had had a hand in this particular moment. Remy's own magic felt nice, it was always so full of love for her and making her happy. She would never doubt his love for her.
She understood now, perhaps more clearly than ever, that it was this magic that bound her to him forever. It made it so easy to forget his transgressions with Kimble, those times he had slipped away from her for just a moment. He always came back and when he did, he felt more powerful, his love for her that much stronger. She knew that if she left him, she would never feel this again, this love that he poured over her time and time again. No one had ever loved her like he did or ever would again. She grasped his hands around her that much more tightly and drank it up, that love.
The spell passed and then they were simply standing there in the kitchen, a chore interrupted, nothing more. Molly laughed as Remy reached out and fed her a scrap of pepperoni, her favorite. He was such a good husband and she loved him like nothing else.
Remy's eyes flicked to the livingroom and he saw Aiden standing there watching them, that half smile still gracing his mouth. His shine was still shimmery with pain, but it seemed he had taken some comfort in watching Remy interact with his Mistress. A slight nod and Aiden turned away, back to Angel.
They gathered around the table and ate. Max was telling funny stories, he always had a few, and Aiden sat quiet, a smile on his face now. Aiden was enjoying this immensely, all the good company, though he didn't outwardly show it. He was not demonstrative like the other Siskans so the bright blue of his shine was as good a sign as Remy was going to get. He would take it.
Angel insisted on sitting next to Aiden and then on his lap when he was finished eating. She was unafraid of him in spite of the day's troubles and clearly wanted to be near him. Angel was hogging Aiden's attention for herself by teaching him sign language, the most basic of gestures, and he was picking it up rapidly. Her presence offered him comfort and he was grateful for it.
When it was time for Angel to go to bed, Aiden seemed mournful, sad that he could no longer play with her. He lingered in the doorway of her bedroom as Remy put her to bed, looking for all the world like he would love nothing better than to curl up with her in his arms. Of course that wouldn't be allowed and he had no choice but to watch from where he was.
Remy tucked in his small charge, kissing her gently and kneeling down next to her bed. Together, they folded their hands and smiling at one another began to recite,
"Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
If I die before I wake
I pray the Lord my soul to take."
Remy turned his head to the doorway in surprise, having heard Aiden softly speak along. It took only the saddest expression on Aiden's face, his shine shimmering with a renewed sense of loss, for the thief to recall that Aiden had written of Asher speaking this very same prayer. Asher who was now gone like everyone else. Aiden turned away and left, leaving a trail of miserable vibrations behind him.
"Why is Aiden so sad?" Angel softly asked.
Remy kissed her. "Because 'e lose a lot in 'is life."
"He hasn't lost as much as the thinks he has," she replied enigmatically, turning on her side and curling up around her teddy bear. "He'll see."
Remy could only puzzle over that himself, she wasn't going to add to it. He kissed her again and shut off the light, closing the door behind him.
Angel wasn't the only one tired and it was almost unanimous that everyone was going to bed. Aiden had taken his place on the couch as Max spread out a sleeping bag on the floor. The Dreamer pulled the blankets over his head and fell asleep almost immediately, exhausted from the day's events.
Gambit woke a few hours later from Molly tugging on him. She took his hand in the dark and signed into it, Something's wrong with Aiden. He's making noise.
Remy got up in a hurry, instantly awake and concerned. He had expected a rush of pain from his leg, he had gotten up too quickly, but the level of pain was nowhere near as bad as it should have been. It was noted but then quickly put aside for the moment as he made his way, hobbling over to the couch, trying to move as quickly as he could despite having left his crutches behind. Aiden was shivering in an unnatural way, tears streaming from his eyes as he jerked and raised his hands defensively over his face. Strange animal noises of pain came from behind his clenched teeth as he fought his invisible battle.
Max remained out cold on the floor, snoring loudly and oblivious to the whole thing — three beers and a belly full of pizza had seen to that. Molly had advantages over Aiden's winged guard, with her animal keen hearing, she had heard Aiden's distress over the racket.
Gambit arrived at the couch without mishap and shook Aiden tentatively, nervous about being too rough. It wasn't always wise to jerk someone awake from a nightmare but he was very concerned, Aiden's vibrations of distress were upsetting. "Aiden? Aiden, wake up s'il vous plait!"
The Dreamer's eyes came half open, but he did not wake, he tensed up instead and snatched at the hands that grabbed him, digging in with his nails. One hand was weaker than the other from the burn Fallen had given him, but it didn't diminish the strength of his defense. Remy was forced to push and twist a bit as Aiden came up, his mouth open as if to bite. This was going to be ugly.
"Uncle Remy?"
Gambit twisted, looking up to see Angel's tiny body in the doorway of her room. "Go back to bed, chere. Aiden's 'avin' a bad dream, dat's all. 'E 'ave dem all de time."
She didn't obey but stood as she was, whispering sadly, "Aiden is dreaming of the bad place again."
Aiden was thrashing on the couch now, forcing Remy to turn away from the child to keep from being bitten. Aiden's body was vibrating not just fear, but pure terror. This was no ordinary dream, not the way Gambit knew them. He shook Aiden with more enthusiasm, "Aiden, wake up. C'mon, buddy!"
Aiden thrashed even more violently and finally the words came from him in a gush. "May'or! May'or taylaszk garat tu'lay! N– nah! Nah! Taylaszk garat tu'lay!"
Gambit concentrated and let go with a large pulse of comforting Kundatesh, hoping to bring Aiden around. The Siskan wailed loudly and woke suddenly, gasping. He saw Remy there and shrieked in surprise, using a telekinetic shove to free himself. Gambit went flying and Aiden jerked back, falling with a painful thud to the floor and scrambling into the nearest corner. He kicked Max in the head as he passed, finally waking his personal bodyguard.
"Ow! Hey! What's going on?" Max complained loudly, rubbing his head and looking quite put out. He glared at Aiden, his eyes accusing.
Gambit sighed and got up stiffly, dusting off. This wasn't his day — his whole week. "Aiden, you okay?"
"Non! It never gonna be okay!" the Siskan bawled hysterically from the corner.
"What's going on?" Max repeated, getting to his feet, his hands already fisting as he tried to determine the threat.
Remy raised a hand to the winged man, asking for calm. "C'est bien. Aiden 'ave a nightmare like 'e always do. Nuthin' to worry about." Gambit stumbled over to where Aiden was crouched, reaching out with his hands. "C'mon, buddy. Get up now. It's all over."
Aiden allowed himself to be comforted and didn't resist as Gambit got him to his feet. He was shaking and trembling and wiped at his face uselessly as he continued to cry. Gambit helped him and gave him a squeeze. "Get some rest, eh? It real late."
"No more szleep fo' Aiden! No more...!"
"All right." Gambit brought Aiden into the kitchen and set him at the table. Molly took Angel with her back to bed, gesturing for Max to take Angel's bed if he wanted. He didn't refuse, but grabbed his blanket and shuffled off, still rubbing his head. Gambit took out a pan and poured some milk into it for hot chocolate.
Aiden had slumped over the table, his head buried in his arms. He was still crying softly and totally miserable. Gambit reached out and touched him, wanting so badly to connect with this beautiful and enigmatic, stubborn Siskan. He stroked Aiden's rumpled hair. "Yo' dreams still dat bad, cher?"
All Aiden could do was nod.
"I got a tonic if you want one."
Aiden shook his head without speaking, he wanted nothing that would make him sleep.
Remy didn't like the lag in conversation so he said, "I finish yo' book. Read all you wrote."
"Yeah?" Aiden replied finally, shifting his arms so he could rest his head on the table and still look up at the thief. He didn't move so far away that Remy would stop petting him.
"Course you didn't finish it. You left off describin' what a great tongue Trishnar have."
Aiden laughed in spite of his tears. "It wasz quite wonderful, yesz."
Gambit was pleased, his charge was talking, relaxing now. A good thing. He kept it going by teasing, "Raspy like a cat, eh? Gonna 'ave to teach Molly dat trick. She got de claws already..."
More gruff laughter. "Zere isz not'ing like a Dognan kissz, not'ing come closze."
"Guess I missed out on dat when I come to yo' 'ouse," Remy teased. " 'E was good to you. Let you chose yo' skin. Wish I coulda fixed it so Kim could change skins like 'e want to."
"Perhapsz szome day we will learn, neh?"
"Oui, dat would be nice."
Aiden sighed heavily, weary to the bone. "I missz 'im."
"Kimble?"
Aiden laughed. " 'Im, too. It wasz Trishnar I szpeak of."
Remy smiled, pleased to hear it. "Why don' you finish yo' story, eh? Tell me about when you come 'ere wit 'im."
Aiden rubbed some of his tears away. "Trishnar szay 'e need to come 'ere, zat 'e have many buszinessz to take care of. 'E too far away on Szolesztra. Need to move. Ashair, 'e don' want to go. Too long Szolesztra 'isz 'ome. Trishnar very szad, but 'e let Ashair sztay behind."
" 'Cause 'e promise to keep Asher happy."
Aiden nodded. " 'E know Ashair need zat placze, ze flowersz and ze gardensz. Trishnar try to copy it dere, in New Orleansz, but ze climate not quite ze same. 'E aszk many time for Ashair to come, but Ashair wish only to sztay on Szolesztra. It wasz Ashair'sz lossz if you aszk me. I liked it dere in New Orleansz, even when ze burglar come an' I szpiked 'im. I wasz not afraid, I protect m' Maszter, my Babette. It wasz a beautiful 'ousze wit anyt'ing I could ever want, me."
"Den why you so unhappy dere? You didn't seem so cheerful when I was dere."
Aiden considered his answer. "Becausze ze one t'ing I really wanted wasz not dere."
"And dat was?"
"Keemble."
Remy was quiet, thinking on that before asking, "You knew you was gonna come 'ere?"
"Not 'ere exactly, jusz' dat sumptin' wasz gonna 'appen. I alwaysz knew I would szee Keemble again, even if it wasz yearz away. Jusz... jusz' didn't know ze coszt of it wasz goin' to be szo very high." Aiden sighed again, that terrible weariness heavy on him again, a tear spilling out.
Remy gave him another deep stoke of his hands. / Say de words, he vibrated, willing Aiden to finally see inside his own heart. / You'll feel better when you do. /
Aiden shuddered and started to softly sob again. "I missz 'im. I missz zem all."
"You lose yo' whole family, cher. You suppose' to miss dem."
"I missz zem... David, Trishnar..." Another sob rocked him and he closed his eyes, shaking now. "Trishnar... m' Maszter... I... I love him... No one ever care fo' me like 'e done."
Remy smiled then, pulling Aiden that much closer. / Bien sur, was dat so 'ard?
Aiden broke, letting it all go in a gush that had been held back for so long. He outright bawled, unloading his grief for his former Master just as he had done for Babette. " 'E fight szo 'ard. Ze.. Ze day b'fore. I warn 'im zat Jael comin'. 'E szay 'e gonna keep 'isz promisze, zat 'e would do whatever it take to keep usz from ze Game, even... even if 'e have to die!" Aiden sobbed. "I did not want disz! I– I love 'im too much!"
Remy took the chair beside the weeping Siskan and spilled him into his arms, holding Aiden tightly. "C'est bein, cher. Dat sacrifice ain't gonna be in vain."
A flicker of movement caught Remy's eye and he glanced up to see Molly's ghostly figure in the open doorway of their bedroom. He didn't need his enhanced vision to know that she had overheard it all and was silently crying herself, feeling all of the poor broken Siskan's pain and woe.
"Why zey leave me?" Aiden continued to bawl. "Zey leave me! Ashair, Trishnar, David, Babette and Keemble. Zey all leave me!"
"Non, non," Remy was quick to soothe. Aiden had hit rock bottom, found the absolute end. It wasn't necessarily the worst thing that could happen, sometimes you had to hit bottom to be able to see the top. "Dey didn' leave you, not like dat. Dey was all taken in deir way, no one leave you. We all got you 'ere, fils. We yo' family now and we all gonna keep you jus' like we got Kimble. Yo' boy jus' take a l'ill time out jus' like you did. 'E'll come out when 'e miss you enough," Remy promised. "It won't be long, I jus' know it. 'E gonna feel you lovin' 'im an' 'e'll come out. In de meantime, you got us. Me an' Molly an' Angel. We all gonna keep you, comprenez?"
Aiden shuddered and calmed. "Don' leave me!"
"Dere ain't gonna be no more leavin'. We all gonna be round you so tight, you de one ain't gonna 'ave no air to breathe, eh?"
Aiden pushed against him, wanting more of his closeness and heat. Filled with emotion, sparkling Morrowhiem left his hands in a small cloud, sinking into Remy's skin. It was a sign of his acceptance and Remy took it, seeing the nod of his wife. She gestured to him, Whatever it takes.
/ Merci, Remy vibrated to her, mouthing the word. He couldn't believe the immensity of her heart, of her capability to forgive and to love. She nodded at him and withdrew, going back to bed.
The sounds of bubbling milk came from the stove and Gambit turned to fetch it, pouring them each a cup and dumping in generous amounts of cocoa. He set the mug in front of Aiden but the Siskan was limp now, wasted. "Drink, eh? It will relax you. Den you can sleep wit no dreams."
Aiden obeyed, sitting up and sipping at the drink, smiling at the taste. He was already hardening up, Gambit could see it. Unfortunately, there wasn't a whole lot he could do about it. He sipped his drink and then after a while, patted the Siskan's head. "Gambit's gotta sleep, 'e's pretty tired now. You watch TV or sumptin', eh? Keep quiet."
Aiden nodded, taking his mug and wandering back over to the couch. He clicked the TV on and let his mind drift as he surfed through the channels. He never felt it when he dropped off to sleep again after only a few more minutes. He knew it only after Max was shaking his shoulder. Time to go to work.