Disclaimer: Don't own anything. Except maybe the plot. Please don't sue me I'm a broke college student I don't really have anything you would want.

AN: So just got back from vacation to Vegas. Spending a week out there sort of put a hold on updating. It also doesn't help that all I can think about is how to do the next chapter after this one. This may make this chapter somewhat rushed since I can't wait to get to the next one. But hopefully it will come out well.

Review Response:

Chica De Los Ojos Café – Congrats. I hoped that you guys would be able to see the empathy. I'm glad you liked it. Hopefully this is soon enough.

bored247 – Congrats on picking up on the empathy. Thanks for understanding about the updating. I hope this comes out soon enough to count as quickly.

GambitGirl2008 – Glad you like it. Thanks for reviewing.

sakura5tar – Remy really is a great guy. I don't think this chapter is going to show you too much where we are going mostly because I don't know but I hope you like it.

Pussykat 8 - :Looks around for popcorn: I think I'm out your going to have to find some on your own. ;) I hope you like this chapter.

FluidDegree – I'm glad you liked the empathy I thought it was a good way for him to develop it and it always seemed like that would be his first mutation to develop to me. Your wait for what happens when he comes back is over but as for what will happen after that you will have to wait some more.

Elle457 – There will definitely be a happy ending one day. I hate it when stories don't have at least some sort of happy in them. She will definitely get a reward but I'm not going to say how soon.

GambitGirl2008 – I'm glad you like it. Definitely poor Rogue. Like I said to Elle457 her life will improve.

gabrielle myka – No one should have to live through what I'm writing or anything vaguely similar. There are too many bad people in this world and it makes me sad. That really sucks for the people you know. I really hope they have gotten out of that situation. I'm glad you like my story. I'm probably going to have to let you down on the beating the crap out of her poppa for a bit but we will see what happens later on. Thank you for reviewing me.

Spicy Sweet – Hopefully you haven't died of suspense that would be sad and put me short a nice reviewer. Ummm… on the age thing, I guess I'm saying Remy is 14 and Anna is 12 approximately I haven't really nailed it down. Basically I wanted them in 8th grade with her young for the grade and him old for it. I can promise you that Remy will get her out of the house but I can't tell you when.

WolvGambit Le Diable Blanc – I'm glad you find it interesting. It was so weird I was reading some of your stuff the day I got your review. Hopefully you will keep reading and enjoying.

BloodCalling13 – Sorry about the cliffiness. I have a bad habit of those. I'm glad you love it hopefully you will keep loving it. Thanks for reviewing both chapters. You rock. I totally understand not getting to review when you want to my computer likes to make reviewing impossible sometimes.

ALL REVIEWERS: THANK YOU. I love that you guys take the time to write me. It totally makes my day. For last chapter I got the most reviews I have ever gotten for a chapter which so rocked. I really hope you like this chapter. Enjoy.

Recap: Remy left Anna's house when her mom was coming home. He is planning to be back later. He has gone home to sleep some since he didn't get any the night before.
The radio clicks on in a darkened room illuminated only by the red numbers of the digital clock read out. Remy rolls over in bed and swats at the clock. Bleary eyed he looks over at the readout. He shifts to lay on his back and closes his eyes.

A few minutes pass and then he sits up suddenly looking at the clock again.

"Merde, Remy nearly forgot 'bout Anna."

He rises quickly and grabs his trench coat off of the floor where he had dropped it on his way to bed. He makes his way to the window and opens it the rest of the way. Mimicking the night before he climbs onto the windowsill and leaps gracefully out of the window landing on the lawn.

He makes his way through the quiet streets occasionally passing a house with a light on. He has encountered no one by the time he reaches her house. Looking up at her house he sees that there is small light on in her bedroom. Remembering that this was to be her signal he makes his way up the tree and onto the roof of the porch. Purposefully he makes his way along the roof to the room he knows is hers. He looks in her window and sees her sitting at her desk with a book open in front of her.

He taps lightly on the window to get her attention. Noticing the noise she rises from the desk and limps slightly over to the window to open it.

"Ah didn' think ya would come. Ya have ta be quiet if ya are gonna stay. Ah don' know if he's gone ta bed yet or not."

"Remy wouldn' forget 'bout ya Anna. Remy promise ta be quiet as a mouse."

She nods and steps aside allowing him to enter the room. He climbs through the window and looks around her room for the first time. The walls are bare except for a mirror placed over the dresser. All of her furniture is matching painted white with decorative flowers. The comforter on her bed is a pale blue matching the area rug that has been spread across the much of the wooden floor. Remy turns his attention back to Anna having taken in his surroundings.

"Chere? Are ya ok? Remy notice ya limpin' alittle."

"Its nothin' just bruised mah knee earlier."

She has arrived back at the desk and taken a seat in her chair facing the window. Remy has followed her and is now kneeling in front of her.

"Can Remy take a look at it. Maybe dere be somethin' he can do ta help?"

"Ah guess if ya really want ta."

He moves to lift her soft pajama pants. Gently he rolls up the dark material revealing her bruised and bleeding knee. He looks up at her questioningly.

"Anna this needs to be taken care of ya cut pretty bad."

She shrugs indifferently before replying "Ah don' think it matters but if ya really want ta there is a first aid kit in the bottom drawer of the dresser. Ah keep it just in case."

Remy rises and makes his way over to the dresser. He pulls out the kit and carries it back over to her. Setting it on the floor next to him he sits Indian style. Next he gently guides her leg so that her foot is in his lap and he has easy access to her knee. He opens the kit and reaches for an alcohol swab. He stops halfway through the motion looking closer at the large kit.

"This was a very complete kit when ya bought it but ya haven't restocked it. There is barely enough to do this right."

"Ah guess Ah sort of stopped caring at some point. Used to bandage everything but then there were too many to count and Ah just couldn't be bothered anymore."

Remy looks at her for a moment then turns back to bandaging her knee. Having wiped away the dried blood and cleaned the wound Remy looks through the box for some gauze and medical type. While he is doing this Anna is simply staring at his face and eyes captivated by the expression of caring that graces his face.

Having finished with her knee Remy unrolls her pants covering over his work. Catching site of her fascination with him he looks up at her and smiles. This causes a slight blush to cross her face at having been caught in the act. She turns her face away slightly in an attempt to hide her embarrassment. He lifts his hand up and gently turns her face back to him.

"Does anything else hurt? Did he do anything new tonight?"

"Mah knee is the only thing major that is new, though my wrist has been hurtin' for a while. Ah can't really brace it though too noticeable. Ah'ld get in too much trouble."

"hmmmm let Remy take a look at it and see if Ah can think of anythin'."

He takes her left wrist in his hand and frowns when he notices the sickening way it moves. He stops moving it immediately when she winces in pain. He looks up at her with concern in his eyes.

"Cher, Remy think dis is broken. It really needs to be splinted at the least. A cast would beh betta' but Remy know ya can't do dat."

She nods silently and waits for him to continue.

"Would it be ok if Remy splinted it for now? Remy'll think about what we can do ta hide it lata'."

"Ok Ah guess that wouldn't do any harm."

Remy looks through the kit for something to splint her wrist finding some more medical tape he gives up searching for anything strong enough to brace her wrist against. He now looks through her desk for something to use and settles on a couple of unsharpened pencils. Taking four of these he wraps each one in left over gauze at the ends attaching it with some of the tape. He then gently takes her wrist and holding it in place takes each of the pencils and places them on different sides of her wrist using a small piece of tape to hold them in place. He then takes the tape and wraps loops around her arm in different places. Once he has finished he lets go of her arm and she takes it into her lap.

"How does dat feel?"

"Hurts less. Thank ya. How'd ya learn ta do stuff like this?"

"Ya welcome. Remy had ta learn how at home. Ma pere believes dat everyone needs to know the basics of taking care of injuries."

"Still seems a little silly ta meh. How often are ya gonna have ta set broken bones? Most people just go ta the hospital."

"Well New Orleans ain't like here and goin' ta da hospital not always an option. Dey ask a lot of questions dere and its hard for dem ta get ta ya if ya in da middle of da bayou."

"Oh Ah guess that makes sense."

She moves slipping down from the chair to sit with him on the floor. She tries to cross her legs forgetting about her knee and winces in pain. She chooses to instead lean against the desk with her legs stretched out in front of her. Stifling a yawn she looks at him.

"Why'ld ya come tonight?"

"Cause ya shouldn't have ta be alone with ya memories. No one deserves dat. Plus Remy wanted ta make sure ya were ok. Ah care 'bout ya."

With this he leans forward and kisses her forehead and pulls her into his lap. He does it gently so as to not hurt her injured limbs. She seems shocked at first startled by this action but after a moments hesitation she rests her head against his chest and allows herself to be enveloped in his embrace.

"So what we gonna do tonight?" asks Remy looking down at the small battered girl snuggled in his lap.

"Ah dunno. This is pretty comfy. Why don' ya tell meh 'bout New Orleans. Sounds pretty cool."

"If ya would like dat."

AN: Ok so Anna is a little out of character. I'm going with the theory that they have known each other for a while and they feel very connected to each other now that he is only person to know her secret she gets a lot of comfort from his presence. Not to mention that he is probably projecting a lot of caring at the moment with his empathy.

"Remy been living in New Orleans 's long as he can remember. Guess he was probably born dere. Don't really remember life before Jean-Luc 'dopted Remy. Remy knows that he was living on the streets 'cause dat be where Jean –Luc found him but he don't know how he came ta be dere. Remy was probably 4 or 5 when dat all happened. Jean-Luc took Remy home and has taken care of him like family ever since. Never even cared 'bout Remy's eyes or nothin'"

"That's sad that ya were on ya own so young. Its good ya found Jean-Luc."

"Yeah it really is. So the LeBeau family took Remy in and treated him as one of deir sons. All da kids were home schooled tagether so dat the family could make sure we all learned what dey wanted. Da family owns a big plot a land outside da city and most of da clan live dere. Mon pere be da patriarch at this point so we live in the big house but its never empty. A lot of da other families live dere 'specially da ones dat short a parent."

"Ah always wanted a big family Ah bet its lots of fun."

"Most a da time. Dough there have been times dat Remy wanted a break from all da activity, particularly when Tante Mattie was on his case to do something."

"Who's Tante Mattie?" asks Anna sleepily

"She's really just a friend a da family but she raised both Remy and his brother Henri afta' our mere died. She takes care of most of da cooking and da children for da clan. She can be a mean old woman when she angry. Ya never want ta cross Tante Mattie. She be da one dat taught Remy how to take care of injuries. She practices Voodoo and takes care of anyone who gets seriously hurt but can't go to the hospital. Always was putting Remy to work helpin' her when he wasn't in school."

"Ah bet it wasn't nearly as much of the time as ya say."

Remy grins at this comment. "Ok maybe not all da time but sure felt like it." This statement causes Anna to let out a small giggle and snuggle closer into his chest.

"So what are ya friends there like?"

"Well most of da people Remy hung out were friend a da family or cousins. We would just hang out go explorin' in da bayou and such. Wasn't until recently dat we did more den just hangout at da family home and find all da trouble we can. Remy guess his closets friends were his cousins Lapin and Etienne we are all close ta da same age. Lately we been starting to get involved with da family business and don't have as much time ta get in trouble. Plus we had all started gettin' interested in femmes."

"Did ya have a girlfriend back home?"

"Yeah Remy been datin' girl named Belle. She real pretty. Got dis long blonde hair dat's straight as can be. Petite little figure but she be all muscles. Problem was dat her family and mine don't get 'long very well. Dat's why Remy got sent ta Mississipp'. His Pere didn't want him datin' Belle and figure' dat if he sent him out here he would forget 'bout her."

"Has it worked?"

"Non, Remy still e-mails her most days. We be in love nothin' gonna change dat certainly not alittle distance. Used ta sneak out every night ta go see her in her room. Got in trouble a good number a times for dat. With both mon pere and her frere Julian. Julian didn't like meh much at all. Says dat she could do better den a low life thief like me."

Her eyes go wide for a second with this revelation. "Ya be a thief? Like ya go out and steal from people?"

Remy slaps his head with his free hand as his faces falls. "Remy wasn't supposed to tell you dat no one here is supposed ta find out 'bout dat."

"Ah wont tell anyone ya know that Ah'm good at keepin' secrets. Is that what the family business is? Thieving?"

"Vrai. Oui, da family business be thieving. And its more den a family it be a guild. Dats why we were all home schooled so dat some of our lessons were on thieving and fighting. Stuff ya would never learn at normal school. We weren't taught much til we turned ten or so den dey start teaching us in earnest. Da reason we weren't 'llowed off da guild compound is 'cause dere is a big war between da thieves and da 'ssassins. Somebody be gettin' hurt or kille' nearly every week. No one even 'members why it started anymore. Da problem with Belle is dat she be da daughter of da patriarch of da 'ssassins guild. Dat's why we not allowed ta even be friends let alone date."

"That really sucks. Ya should be 'llowed ta love whoever ya want. Are ya still in touch with her or did ya poppa's plan work?"

"Oui, Remy e-mail Belle most nights. Remy not going to let his pere win. Remy don't plan on staying here too long. Just long enough to convince his pere dat he willing to be da bon fil he wants."

Remy realizes he has said the wrong thing when her face falls. Tears start to form in the corners of her eyes as she pushes away from him. Trying to climb out of his lap she pushes off his chest with her broken wrist and winces but manages to stand up and turn away from him. She walks over to the window before he can do anything. She stands looking out the window for a moment before she speaks.

"So ya gonna be leavin' soon then? Its been what two months. Shouldn't ya be goin' home in the next week or so. Ah'm sure ya Belle is missin' ya. Ah wouldn't wan' ta keep ya from her. Ya should probably head home don' wan' ya ta get in trouble. Ya might get stuck here for another two months if that happened."

Behind her Remy stands and walks over to stand behind her as she speaks to the window. As she speaks tears make there way down his cheeks glistening slightly leaving his cheeks damp. When she finishes speaking he takes her and turns her around to face him. Gently he lifts her face up so that she is looking at his face.

"Anna, chere, Remy said dat wrong. Remy not gonna 'bandone ya. Oui, Remy miss Belle but Belle is in a safe place and will still be dere when Remy get back. Remy can still e-mail her all da time and she know as well as Remy dat mon pere can be stubborn as hell. Dat's why Remy don' even know when his pere gonna let him go home. But Remy promise dis he not gonna go 'til he figure out a way ta get ya safe. Ya like ma seour can't let anythin' happen to ya not when dere has ta be a way ta prevent it."

He now pulls her in for a close but gently hug mindful of her bruised body. They stand crying into each others shoulders for a while as her exhausted mind tries to process what he has said. Remy is the first to calm down and begins to rock Anna slowly back and forth soothing her as best he can.

"Ya really care for meh tha' much Remy? Enough ta put off seein' Belle?"

"Oui, don' know why but Remy feel like he known ya much longer den two months. And Belle will still be dere and really if she isn't willin' ta wait while Remy takes care of his famille den she ain't da girl Remy though' she was."

"And ya aren't gonna make meh go with child services? They are no good round here. Don't give a damn what ya do ta the kid s'long as no one makes a fuss. Please promise meh ya wont make meh take mah chances with them."

"Remy promise. Dat's why it might take a while for remy ta think up a good alternative. Remy just not sure yet how he gonna do it but he will." He then gives her a cocky grin to show is self confidence and continues, "and just ta show ya Remy always finds a way ta solve a problem, Remy even got an idea 'bout how ta hide dat splint at school."

She giggles slightly at this though her cheeks are still damp from tears. "And wha' is this idea of yar's mista' Lebeau?"

With a flourish Remy steps back and bows slightly with a smirk in his eyes. He then reaches into his coat as he is rising back up and pulls out a pair of black gloves. This show has caused Anna to break out in more hushed giggles. Remy then offers the gloves to Anna who takes them to get a closer look at the strange fabric that makes up the gloves.

"Would the Mademoiselle like some assistance?"

"Sure sugah."

Remy now takes one of the gloves back and gently takes her corresponding hand. As it happens to be her left he is extra gentle as he eases the glove over her hand and the splint. Once he is finished Anna takes a look at her arm amazed at how well the glove hides his handiwork form earlier.

However there is still an air of confusion around her as she asks, "why are there only two fingers covered?"

Remy goes to put the other glove on her as he answers her question. "Dese be Remy's thievin' gloves. De covered fingers are for when ya don' want ta leave any fingerprints. Dey be very important ta remy so dere no way he gonna go back ta New Orleans without dem. So as long as ya have dem ya know dat Remy stayin' here. Ok?"

She is still mesmerized by the look of the gloves on her hands. But after a minute she responds. "Yeah that's ok. Ya sure ya willin' ta part with them is they are that importan'?"

"Oui, Remy ok with it. Now Remy don' wanna go but its getting' late and da sun be risin' Remy don't want ta get either of us in trouble if he can avoid it. Ya gonna be ok 'til school?"

"Yeah, Ah'll beh fine. Ah'll see ya there?"

"Of course."

He pulls her close in another embrace and rubs her back for a moment. He then gently kisses her forehead.

Pulling away he goes over to the window and climbs out onto the roof. Looking back one last time he scans the room.

"Anna ya should probably put da kit away before ya get ready."

"Yeah thanks Ah would of forgotten." She pauses for a second. "Remy, thank you, for everything."

He simply smiles at this and quickly makes his way down the roof to what is quickly becoming his tree.

AN: Well this is certainly one of the longest chapters I've written if you base it on the number of pages in my word document. If I described Remy's gloves wrong someone please tell me. I know he probably wouldn't have them yet and all but I really wanted him to give them to her and it is my story. I'll try and put the French I used below but normally I do it while I'm writing so I don't know if I will catch them all.

Vrai – true
Mademoiselle – miss
Oui – yes
Non – no
Ma seour - my sister
Mon frere – my brother
Mon pere – my father
Famille - family

AN (again): I know I should have proof read this but my computer battery is about to die and I really want to get it up now. So sorry? I'll try and fix it if there is a lot of stuff.