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: Ok short reason for the delay: my life went to hell in a hand basket. Short reason for why I am updating now: I don't want to do my homework. Short reason for why this chapter is going to be alittle weird: this about the fourth time I've tried to write it so bits and pieces from earlier hanging on. And finally, I've never even taken a self defense class so I am making this stuff up as I go along.

Review Response:

bored247 – I'm glad you love it. French is over rated though I'm probably going to go back to it at some point. It would probably be easier then starting a new language for me. Here is your more for you.

FluidDegree – I'm glad you approve of Tante knowing. I always figured her for someone who just knew everything that was going on without being told. One of those people who is really smart just didn't go through a lot of school.

Spicy Sweet – Yay that you love it. Hopefully you will love this chapter too.

Chica De Los Ojos Café – Yay for approval. Sorry about the delay in this update. I hope you enjoy this chapter too.

Balabaloosa – I hoped that people would like those things I thought they were cools ideas. Here's a nice little delayed update for you.

sakura5tar – I totally agree about the condolences. It makes you just want to fix it so bad but you can't and it sucks. Hopefully your friend has managed to find her family by now. Here's my update for you.

Beauiful Enigma – I'm glad you like it. It is sort of sad how desensitized a lot of people are to abuse and violence but I think as long as you still think it is a bad thing to happen your ok. I hope the guy you met is in Jail cause people like Anna's dat belong there or in a mental hospital. Hope you still like where I'm taking the story.

gabrielle myka – I totally agree. Too many fics assume that Remy's family is just using him. I know that they have in evo but I figure since he doesn't even exist in movie yet I can make them act how I want.

All Readers: thank you for taking the time to read my little story and if you want to see your penname appear in my little review responses all you have to do is click the little review button. Not that I'm trying to bribe you or anything. Ok enough about that back to advancing my plot.

AN2: this update we will be featuring Remy's inner monologue in italics. Any writing will be in bold as always. I think that is about it. Oh yeah one other thing I've been reading the ultimate x-men comics so Remy's accent is probably going to shift some to more reflect that.

"Remy LeBeau, Ya promise'. Ya not gonna break ya word ta meh now are ya?"

Anna and Remy are sitting on the back steps of her house in the morning sun. A faint breeze can be felt as the temperature and humidity hover making the air thick with a promise of another hot Mississippi day. The sky is brilliant blue and the trees are rustling softly in the breeze. Remy looks over at Anna and grins cockily.

"A thief break his word? Never. Remy just not sure if dis be a good idea dat's all."

"Why wouldn't it beh Ah'm not expectin' ya ta beh around the rest a mah life. Ya and Ah both know its only a matter of time before ya father calls ya back ta New Orleans. Which will leave meh alone. Ah need ta know how ta take care of mahself cause as soon as Ah'm eighteen Ah'm gonna be out of here."

Not if I have anything to do about it. I am going to get her out of here but I don't want to get her hopes up just in case I fail. I guess I can't really blame her for wanting to learn how to steal and fight. Its not something that you can really learn in school. I just wish she didn't feel like she needs to learn. She's right about my father its only a month until the baby is due and I know that he will be having Tante Mattie bring me home with her after the delivery. I just don't know what to do.

Anna snaps her fingers in front of Remy's face. "Earth to Remy. Ya feelin' ok?"

Shaking his head slightly to break him self out of his thoughts Remy turns to smile at her. "Oui, Remy feel fine just got lost in his thoughts for a moment dere."

"That's seems ta beh happenin' ta ya a lot lately. Ya got somethin' big on ya mind or somethin'?"

"Nah, just da normal stuff nothin' new really."

She shrugs at this deciding to let it drop since they have had equivalent conversation just about everyday for the past month. "So ya gonna teach meh or am Ah gonna have ta keep askin?"

Remy turns away to look at the beautiful landscape in front of him, and nods his affirmation. "Oui, Remy will teach yo' but yo' gotta promise ta never tell anyone where yo' learn. Remy would get in big trouble for teachin' yo' without da guild knowin'."

Anna throws her arms around his neck and beams brightly giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank ya Remy ya the best."

If only that were true, but I'm not going to be the best unless I can get you out of this house and town. Anything less then that is failure on my part. I just wish I knew how.

"Ok petite what should we start with?"

She giggles slightly "How would Ah know ya da professional here not meh."

God its so good to here her laugh and see her smile. She never used or only very rarely. Now when we are alone during the day she is almost always happy. At night she still cries and locks her emotions away but I can't blame her for that its probably the only way she can cope. I'm so glad both her parents work during the summer and that they don't care what she does as long as she stays on the property and away from their stuff. Its been fun coming over here every morning just to hang out and relax…Uh oh if I don't come up with something to start with soon she is going to be upset and start asking questions about my distracted state of mind again. It just has to be something that won't hurt her. I'm running out of the ointments Tante Mattie prepared at Christmas. I'm really amazed that they have lasted this long. But that is all beside the point right now. The only thing I can think of to start her with is throwing a punch. I guess that's as good as anything else.

"Ok since we can't very well practice pick pocketin' in yo' backyard how about we start with some basics of fightin' and defendin' yo'self."

God knows she has already learned how to take a punch and a whole heck of a lot more pain.

Gently Remy takes Anna's hand and opens it flat on his own. He then pulls her thumb away from her other fingers. She is watching carefully as he folds her fingers up into her palm and finally wraps her thumb over her folded fingers close to the palm. He then lets go of her fist.

"Now chere, can yo' do dat on yo' own?"

She nods and unclenches her hand so that she can show him. Quickly she makes a fist

Remy sits at this desk journal spread in front of him. His hand moves quickly over the page as his pen causes words to appear across the page. He is visibly upset as he writes.

June 29

I feel like my time is running out. Elvire is due any day now and Tante Mattie is already here. The entire house is on edge just waiting for the baby to come. But all I can think about is that I've failed Anna. I haven't come up with a plan yet. It's getting worse for her I know. Her father found out she was out of the house during the day a week ago and broke a couple of her ribs not to mention her wrist. I think he may have even bruised one of her lungs.

He pauses and brings his hand to his eyes in an attempt to wipe away the tears that have formed in his eyes. He breathes deeply for a moment with his eyes closed before he begins to write again.

She hasn't been up to doing much beyond lying around the house since then. She was really coming along with her self-defense before that. I almost feel guilty teaching her all the stuff I've learned from the guild but I justify it with knowing that she is going to need this knowledge if she is ever going to escape. I just worry what will happen to both of us if the elders were to find out. I know that I would be protected to some degree by my father but she would have no such protection.

She has a real talent for it. The only reason she got in trouble was because one of her Dad's friends saw us at the 7-11. I think she could probably make it in the guild at this point be one of the best if you ask me but they would never accept her. But even without that training she could probably make enough money stealing to get by on the streets if she had to. But I don't want her to have to survive that way. I want to find a way to get her safe and happy.

"REMY, it's TIME," can be heard echoing up from downstairs.

Immediately, Remy slams shut his journal, jumps up and heads to the door. He runs down the stairs shouting his reply. "Remy coming. Did ya call da 'opital?"

Remy sits at the kitchen table his arms cross on the table with his chin resting on them. His eyes have the glazed look of someone who is lost in thought. Behind him Mattie enters from the hallway a cordless phone is in her hand. She makes her way to the cradle for the phone and places it in it. She turns and starts to busy herself at the counter, making a fresh pot of coffee and finding pastries.

Once she has done all of this, she places a steam cut of café au late in front of Remy and a plate of pastries in between them as she takes a seat next to him. The smell of the coffee seems to bring Remy out of his thoughts. He sits up and takes the coffee to himself and sips it slowly.

After a few moments of silence in which Mattie and Remy simply sip there coffee, Remy breaks the silence asking, "dat was pere?"

"Oui, dat was ton pere. It be demain," is Mattie's reply as she lets the sadness come into her voice.

"Demain! Yo' can buy meh anymore time? He couldn't of given us 'bit mo' warnin'?" Remy has stood up and is looking down at Mattie with a mixture of fear and anger in his eyes and voice.

"Desole chil'. But dere was no mo' time ta buy. Dey need meh back dere. Da guild can only be without dere healer for so long. Chil' ya know dat Elvire ain't da only one due dis summa'. Ah need ta be dere ta help da others with dere births and da normal injuries dat seem ta happen." Mattie has said all this keeping her voice calm and even hoping not to upset Remy anymore.

Remy sits down and puts his head in his hands. "Dis can' be happenin'. Ah don' know what ta do. Ah can' leave yet. Tante, ya sure we can' stay alittle longa'. Ah haven't even told her dat it was gonna be soon." He looks up at Mattie with pleading eyes as he finishes this.

"Desole. We have ta go and it has ta be 'morrow. Dere ain' no use in arguein' with ya pere. Ya just gonna have ta tell her dat ya leavin'."

"But Tante, Ah promise' ta get her out of dere and Ah've failed. Ah've failed her. Ya can' seriously feel bien 'bout leavin' her in dat house."

"Some things shouldn't be promise'. Ya lucky dat ya have 'til tomorrow so dat ya can go and tell her good bye. And non, Ah don' want ta leave dat chil' in dat house. Nobody should look like she does and she such a sweet girl despite it all. Have ya even talke' ta her 'bout goin' ta live with someone else?"

"Ah don't can't think of anywhere ta take her other den New Orleans but we both know with da peace treaty relyin' on Belle and Ah gettin' married and how jealous she is dat dat would only lead to more problems. She don' want ta talk tad a police or child services 'cause she don't trust dem not ta stick her in a worse place."

"What 'bout here. Ah'm sure Elvire will need help with da baby and all she could have ya room. Ya know dat Elvire will take good care of her."

"Ah've considere' it a hundred times but she would still be so close to him he would probably find her and take her back home. It's no good she has ta be far away from here. It's the only way."

"Den Ah think ya may just be out of luck chil' dere nothin' more we can do right now. Maybe in 'bit once da peace treaty is all worked out you can bring her home. Ah really hate dat is has ta be dis way. Ah wish dere were another way but short of tellin' ton pere what beh goin' on dere is no way dat da two of us will beh able ta get her taken somewhere safe. And we gotta protect ourselves right now so dat we can be dere in da future."

Remy sighs and puts his head back in his arms. When he speaks again the words are muffled. "Ah know Tante, Ah know. Ah just wish dere was another way, dat's all."

Mattie moves her chair next to his and pulls him into an embrace. "Ah know chil' Ah wish dere was one too."

They sit for a few minutes as tears stream down both their faces. After a while the tears slow and they separate.

Remy is the first to speak as he stands up, "Ah guess we need ta get ta packin' if we leavin' in da mornin'."

Mattie simply nods keeping her seat as she watches Remy walk out the door heading upstairs to his room.

There is a soft rain falling as Remy makes his way to Anna's bedroom window. It's early for him but he is hoping for every extra minute he can get with her. Her light is on when he gets there which brings a smile to Remy's face. He looks into be sure she is alone before gently tapping on the window. She gets up quickly from the place she has been laying on the floor when she hears his tapping. She pulls up the screen to give him access to the room.

He climbs inside and always gives her an immediate hug and a kiss on the forehead. He then looks away from her as he speaks trying to hide the sadness he is feeling knowing that he will have to break her heart tonight. "Let's go somewhere else tonight okay?"

Anna looks at him trying to appraise what is causing him to act out of character but only hesitates momentarily before answering. "Okay, if ya want just make sure no one sees us, that's all Ah ask."

Having gotten her agreement Remy climbs back out onto the porch roof and offers her a hand with getting out onto the roof.

They make there way down to the roof Remy keeping a close eye on Anna the entire way to ensure that she doesn't overextend herself. Once on the ground Remy wraps an arm around her shoulder and guides them to a small park. All the while the warm soft summer rain is falling on their heads.

When they reach the park a small smile spreads across Anna's face as they go to sit on the swings. She rocks back and forth looking at him and then at their surroundings.

The small park is dotted with trees with a larger band surrounding the play area. There are no lights in the park since it is technically supposed to be closed at dusk but since the gates are broken no one really bothered to enforce those rules.

Looking at the trees Anna's breathe catches in her throat. When she can find the words to breathe out again she whispers so he can barely make her out. "Remy look at the trees."

Remy whose attention has been wholly focused on Anna until this time, turns his eyes to look at what she is focused on. He can't help but smile as he sees what she has been so mesmerized and entranced by. Off in the trees there a hundreds of little flickering lights. For a minute Remy isn't sure what they are but then his mind fills in identifying the little lights as fireflies hiding the trees to keep dry.

"Its magic just for yo' chere."

Even through the dark Remy can see the blush that spreads over her cheeks at this comment. However despite the obvious joy she is feeling Remy's smile falters.

After a moment more of watching the lightening bugs Remy rises from his swing and comes to stand in front of Anna. Gently he lifts her chin so that he can look into her eyes. He can't keep the sadness out of his voice as he begins to speak, "Anna, Remy gotta tell yo' somethin' but he don' want ta."

She looks up at him and her smile quickly fades as tears form in the corners of her eyes. But she holds them back trying to be strong for him. "Its ok Remy, Ah understand. Ya have ta go. We both knew it was comin' it was only a matta' of time. Ya've been a good friend but Ah didn't really 'pect ya ta stick 'round for dat long. Really its ok."

Remy is shocked at how she has practically read his mind. "Ah'm so sorry Anna. Ah didn't want ta have ta leave yo' alone. Ah don't want ta go but mon pere just wont let meh stay any longa'. He just don' unda'stand." He then lifts her out of the swing and pulls her to him in a hug. "Ah'll never forget yo' and as soon as Ah can Ah'll beh back for yo'. Ah'm not gonna leave yo' here fo' long."

She melts into his embrace for a moment before pulling away. She reaches into her pocket turning her face away from his. Pulling out the gloves he gave her she holds them out unable to meet his eyes as the tears stream down her face. "Here. These are yours ya should take them back."

Seeing this gesture tears form in Remy's eyes and slowly make their way down his cheeks. "Non, yo' keep dem. Ah gonna be back fo' ya and when Ah do den yo' can give dem to meh. But not now." He then gently tilts her face back up to his and uses his thumb to wipe away her tears. "Dey stay with yo' for now. But it won' be fo' long. Remy gonna come back." He then pulls her into a tight hug and they stand there in the rain surrounded by the lightening bug filled trees crying into each other's arms.

As the rain dies down and the clouds begin to split they too split apart. All of the tears cried filled with a sense of destiny. Anna looks up at the stars. "Do they look the same in New Orleans?"

Remy tilts his head up to look at the stars also with an appraising eye. "Oui, dey look just 'bout da same."

Anna now turns her eyes back to Remy asking, "Remy, can we go home now? Ah just want ta get out of these wet clothes."

Remy simply nods and takes her hand and leads her back home.

AN: So that's it for this chapter. It was supposed to come out yesterday as a birthday present to myself but well it didn't happen. I hope you guys enjoy it. I'm glad I've finally found the time to post this. School has been trying to kill me. There is about one more chapter in what I think of as part one of the story. I hope to be able to update fairly regularly but I don't know if it will really be able to happen. We will see. Anyways, hope you enjoyed and will leave a little message saying what you thought.

AN2: Just a cool little fact I've actually seen the fireflies do what I described and had about Anna's reaction to it.

FRENCH TRANSALTIONS:

'opital – hospital

Pere – father

Ton pere – your father

Demain – tomorrow

Desole – sorry

Chere – dear

Non – no

Oui - yes