Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men:Evolution or it's characters. Just my OC, Molly Callum/Creature and any original characters/background characters that may pop up from time to time.
Author's Note: So I'm sitting here, typing out the first sentence, and it hits me that Remy's biological parents would have a slim chance-or at least not a great chance of sharing his adopted last name. My bad! But, for the sake of...the sake...we'll say they do. Or at least his bio dad does. (You'll see what I mean.) It's probably unlikely, but it's easier than him suddenly changing his last name (which isn't happening. Not that he would, I don't think, like, Kurt has never changed his name to Darkholme in most cannons. Why are so many X-Men adopted orphans? It doesn't seem like a common thing in America, but I could be really wrong. Guess it's just more dramatic/interesting than having most of them come from traditional families.) Not sure if Remy got OOC in this one, or I'm just not used to making him as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. (Yes, I watch too many iterations of X-Men. So sue me.) Lastly, Remy's parents are obviously OCs and I thought this was a refreshing change to near-normalcy instead of "Remy is related to Sinister/is the third Summers brother" or whatever. If I can improve it in any way, please tell me how. Well...enjoy!
Remy sat at the computer screen. Thanks to the Professor, he had plenty of promising leads up to phone numbers and addresses several people who might be parents. Surprisingly, the Professor had also thought of something Remy didn't-that his biological parents may not be living together anymore. So they looked into the Violet Bryces and Howards and LeFluers that would've been the right age. Now Remy had the information, all he had to do was call.
It was the scariest thing he'd done in his life.
It wasn't the thought of being rejected that scared him. He wasn't a push-over. He was opening a proverbial door that he couldn't shut. Even if they didn't want him, he could at least find out why they gave him away. That was what scared him. To find out something like his parents were scared of mutants would've been heartbreaking. Remy just had to be brave and shove all those thoughts aside. If anything, he was curious. The truth might be hard to take, but he could live with whatever the outcome was. He had to.
Remy got the phone from the hallway, taking it to his room, then dialing it.
"Uh, hello? I was just calling to ask if you gave up a baby boy for adoption in nineteen-eighty-five?...No? Okay, thank you for your time, sir."
And it was more of the same. It took thirty different calls before Remy found any hope.
"Hello?" A female voice sounding nothing more than a songbird, an angel, answered the other line. Even if this wasn't his mother, Remy was impressed. It wasn't often he'd heard such a pleasant voice.
"Sorry to bother you, Ma'am, but I was just calling around wondering if you gave up a baby for adoption? A baby boy?"
There was a gasp on the other end.
"I...I did. Sort of," Violet said.
Remy took pause. Sort-of?
"What year?"
"Eighty-five,"
"Good, good," Remy muttered quietly, "Did he, uh, have any unusual features?"
"Red eyes...with...with black not white behind them," Violet said slowly, " Dark as night. I thought they were beautiful."
Remy dropped the phone, catching it. There was a small chance it wasn't him, but it was highly unlikely. He was also surprised that he'd found her so soon, on the first day of calling people. "Uh, okay. There's a chance-a big chance-I might be your son. My name is Remy," Remy smiled hard.
"Oh, dear. I need to sit down," Violet sounded in shock. She wasn't the only one in shock.
"It's a lot to take in, I know. If you don't want to have anything to do with me, I understand. Or If it's too much, we don't have to talk right now but-"
"No, no. I want to talk with you. Remy, there's a lot you should know. I mean, if we are related," Violet said, "But we should talk about it in person. How soon can you come out?"
"I'm in New York. Where I work has a jet. I can be there in a few hours," Remy said.
"Really? Oh, that's fantastic! I'll make up the guest room. I'm sorry I never looked for you. I'm so, so sorry, honey," Violet was crying, he could tell.
"No, hey. It's _nobody's_ fault...m-miss Violet," Remy said, (He wasn't ready to call her 'mom' quite yet), "Things happen, and I wasn't curious for a long time. I was raised to be a very independent person. Things changed for me."
"Yes, things happen, you're right," Violet said, "Whatever happens, I'm excited to see you, Remy."
"Me too, but there are a couple of things you should know before I come," Remy said, "Obviously, I'm a mutant."
"Yes, I assumed that when I saw the news a few years ago," Violet laughed awkwardly, "Oh, that never mattered to me. And you sound like you grew up to be a fine boy, Remy. What else did you want to tell me, hon?"
"Well, I'm engaged. I want to bring her out so you can meet her and, uh, moral support," Remy said, shakey still.
"You're sure you want to? Remy, there's still a chance you might not be related to me. I'd hate for you to put all your eggs in one basket so fast," Violet said. Skepticism was to be expected.
"I'm sure. This feels right," He wanted to say there weren't bad odds that he was not related to her. How many red-eyed babies were out there from Louisiana? Not many. But he didn't want to be rude or snippy either, not to his potential mother. (And he usually was a perfect gentleman to all women, besides.) "Anyway, is my dad still around? I want to meet him too if that's possible."
"He's still alive, but I'm afraid we're not together anymore. Remy, a lot of this is best said in person, it's a long story," Violet said, "I'll get the house ready and you can come to see me. Spend a few days and we'll talk, get everything sorted. And congratulations on getting engaged. My address is..." He got her address, writing it down with an unsteady hand for the first time in his life.
"Thank you," Remy said, "We'll see you in a couple of hours. Bye."
Remy hung up the phone, feeling absolutely beside himself. Surprise, shock, happiness...everything hit him at once. He didn't expect to feel this way. He hadn't needed anyone before. He hadn't wanted parents before. As he said, things changed. So did he. Being around the X-Men hadn't turned him into a complete sap, but he'd gotten a little more sentimental over the years, surely. He'd learned that family was important, from them. Also, from Molly most of all. He couldn't believe he was excited to meet the woman who might be his mother when years ago, he would've said he could take it over leave it.
Remy made the walk to Molly's room and knocked. "Baby, I haven't seen you smile like that in forever. What's going on?" Molly greeted him with a hug.
"I did it. I think I found my...my mom," Remy said slowly.
"Really? On the first try? That's exciting, but it seems a little suspect. Not to burst your balloon," Molly said, holding his hand as they sat on the bed.
"I made thirty calls," Remy said, "She said she gave up a red-and-black- eyed baby boy the year I was born. She sounded really nice, Molly. She sounded sweet. Kind. I said we could fly out in a couple of hours. I need you to come with me. I want you to meet her. Please."
"Okay, that's fine, but Remy? Don't get your hopes up. I know I'm not always the voice of reason, but I don't want to see you get hurt, either," Molly frowned, "I'm happy for you, but I'll be happier once it's real and we know for sure."
"I know, it might be sketchy, but it seems to line up. If she's not real, I can handle the disappointment. I just want to check.
I can tell when people are lying and I've been through worse," Remy said. It was a slight understatement. There were few things worse than finding out your real family didn't want you or something shady was going on.
"You have not," Molly saw through it, "You've been through a million life and death situations. Not things where your heart is involved.-But I know if anyone can bounce back, it's you," Molly smiled, slugging him in the arm.
Remy kissed the top of her head.
"Get packed for a few days. I'll tell the teachers. I'll meet you at the jet."
"Hey, maybe get someone to pilot? I'd feel better if you did," Molly suggested.
"Can do," Remy nodded happily.
He saw Molly's point, anything could happen, but after all this time, her optimism was rubbing off on him. Remy truly wanted to believe that he'd found his family.
