Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men: Evolution or its characters. Just my OC, Molly Callum/Creature, and any original characters/background characters that may pop up from time to time.
They found themselves standing in front of a beautiful southern mansion. Well, a huge southern mansion. It had four floors, with a flat roof, and was mostly white with a striking golden-not yellow-shining trim. Two massive pillars on either side of a front door, all surrounded by a tall black metal gate. "You're sure this is the right address?" Molly said after her mouth hung open.
"It's right. I checked it about four times," Remy said.
"I'll be out here if _anything_ goes wrong," Scott said. The teachers hadn't exactly been elated that trying to meet Remy's mom had been a quick one-day deal. Scott and Logan had to be talked out of dragging the whole team along, but Jean and others pointed out that it wasn't a mission. Just a normal see-if-this-is-your-family check out. Nothing weird about it. Supposedly.
"We know," Molly rolled her eyes, "I can protect Remy myself, too."
"We appreciate it, Scott, but I think it'll be okay," Remy rang the buzzer at the gate.
"To whom am I speaking?" A snobby sounding, well enunciated British male voice said at the other end.
"Remy LeBeau and Molly Callum, here to see Miss Violet Sherwood," Remy said.
"Yes, she's expecting you. One moment," The British man said.
The gates soon opened and the couple walked inside and up to the door, which was already opened by the butler. A tall-ish man with grey hair and dressed in an actual formal dinner suit with white gloves. Behind him were two lithe, well-to-do dark-haired young men that took their bags. "I am Thaddeus Wethersbee. Pleased to make your acquaintance. Miss Sherwood is on the telephone. Samuel and Sedric will take your bags. If you'll follow me to the drawing-room, she'll join us shortly."
Remy looked around. It was like any other southern mansion. A foyer with a few couches, with the staircase in the center of the room. Two hallways, with two more going opposite each other. The floor was wood, not marble. There was a modest chandelier above them. Upstairs, Remy could guess there were more hallways and the place had to have more than eight bedrooms if it was four whole floors. Of course he'd stole from places like this back in the day, but he'd never dreamed his mother might live in one.
Wethersbee walked ahead of them down a long hallway to a large wooden door into a sort of drawing-room. It had a massive bay window overlooking a professionally cared for arboretum, more than just a garden. There was a wood floor, a rug, two couches and a couple of sitting chairs, all red. In the center was an oval-shaped glass table and tea and cookies on a tray. Behind all that were a couple bookcases that reached the tall ceiling. Remy and Molly took their seats on the couch closest to them. Wethersbee bowed at them. "If you should need anything, the intercom is here. There is a lavatory down the hall on the left side, clearly marked. Good afternoon." The door shut.
"Yeah, she left out the tiny, minute detail that she's rich," Remy said, "When she said she had to make up the guest bedroom, I thought two-bedroom house with a pool or something. Not four-floor mansion with a rose garden. And trees. Look at all those trees!" Remy waved a hand dramatically.
"I know, I know," Molly giggled, uncomfortable, "But look at it this way. She's living comfortably. If she's this setup, you'd never have to worry about her. She seems to be set for life."
Things got quiet.
"I should call Scott. let him know we're fine," Remy said.
"I'll call him. You've got enough to deal with," Molly took out her phone, quickly told Scott everything was fine and hung up.
They waited.
and waited.
"I hope she's alright," Remy said.
"You know these rich types," Molly said, "Always on the phone for something."
Remy just nodded. Maybe Violet was wheeling and dealing and couldn't put the phone down or she'd lose the deal. Or, possibly, she was talking to Remy's biological father and working out the details. She had said he was still alive. Remy hoped he'd get to meet him.
Five minutes later, the door opened after a knock. Violet stepped inside. She was around five-eight, slim, about fourty, with wavy blonde hair a little past her shoulders and blue eyes as shiny as a new penny. She was dressed simply, in a pink satin blouse and black skirt with black flats. Remy's mouth hung open and he just sat there staring. Okay, she looked exactly like Alternate Remy's mom and her name was Violet. That didn't mean anything. Lots of women were named Violet. And had Remy's smile...and confident walk...and that air of nothing-bothers-me attitude as she walked into the room like she _commanded_ it, not just owned it. "Get up," Molly quietly said while she elbowed him, already standing.
"I know, I'm in shock too," Violet smiled at him. Remy stood, unable to take his eyes off of the woman.
"Uh, sorry. Hi. H-Hello, uh, nice to meet you? I'm Remy. You know that already," Remy was dumbfounded and stammer-y. This had knocked him off of his feet completely.
"Honey, it's fine. I'm sure we're all nervous. Come here," Violet hugged him. Remy hugged back after a few seconds, feeling strange. Was he hugging his mom or just another stranger?
"Uh, hello. I'm Molly, Remy's fiancee," Molly was soon swept into a hug herself.
"Cute as a button with a smile that could light up a room," Violet lit up over Molly, "Nice to meet you. Remy chose well. You're clearly a fine lady, Molly."
"Thank you. Uh, I'm sure you have a lot of questions and Remy has some too," Molly mediated a little, seeing how freaked out Remy was.
"Yeah, I do," Remy said, quickly feeling more himself again, "I just want to know what happened. Why'd you do it. Why did you give me away?" Best to get the hardest question out in the open first.
Violet breathed out heavily before taking a seat across from them. (Remy all but collapsed back onto the couch, his heart thundering.)
"It wasn't my decision. That decision was taken from me. I had you young, Remy. Too young. I decided to elope with your dad, Henry, at seventeen. We'd known each other our whole lives and thought we knew better. My daddy-your grandpa-was a very rich high society type, Corporate Executive, and owner of Sherwood Automotive. We were always in the public eye, so to have a rebellious daughter was the beginning of the straw that broke the camel's back. Having an obvious...unconventional...grandson to a still teenage daughter was his breaking point, but the worst thing he ever did to me was...was take you away. He had people steal you, giving you away to some orphanage. We tried looking for you, we really did, but nothing came of it. After that, my daddy took me away from Henry and had me locked down, making sure we never saw each other again. A few years later, after daddy passed away and I inherited the mansion and the company, Henry had moved on with someone else. He's still here in New Orleans, with his wife and two kids, but he says he wants to meet you."
The words washed over Remy like a cold ocean tied. Teenage marriage? A rich grandpa that had people steal him? A Re-married dad? (And Remy had half-siblings?!) It was a library's worth to take in all at once. Remy forced himself to breathe, barely feeling Molly gripping his hand.
"Okay...okay...I don't know what to say," Remy said, staring into the floor.
"You don't have to say anything," Violet said, "I know it all sounds crazy and you're not used to dealing with that sort of thing."
"No, that's not it," Remy said, "We deal with crazy daily. It is a lot and I just thought my life couldn't be much crazier, but I've been proven wrong."
"How do you mean?" Violet looked worried.
"Sorry to break it to you, but we're with the X-Men. Real-life superheroes," Molly quipped, "We're used to this kind of stuff, just not so much in our personal lives. And not being told everything by a rich mother in a mansion. It's surreal for Remy, I'm sure."
"I see," Violet said, "I did leave a lot out over the phone, but I didn't want to shock you, I'm sorry."
"Same," Remy said, "It's understandable. You were just a kid. Younger than us. You didn't have any control and I don't blame you or...or my dad for what happened. Besides, it all worked out. If things had been any different, I might not have joined the X-Men or met Molly. They've been my family for three years now and quite a great one. Uh, so I have half-siblings? I wasn't expecting that."
"Yes," Violet nodded, "They're about, let me think...twelve and fifteen. Russo and Ari. Good boys, but I don't know much about them. Henry and I remained friendly to each other, but that's all. His wife's name is London. Nice woman, but a little too nice. She has no problem with mutants and knows all about me and how we lost you."
"Uh, you're sure she doesn't have a problem with mutants? Sometimes that isn't always the case," Molly looked worried.
"Well, if she doesn't, her true colors will show," Violet said, "I never did ask what kind of powers you have."
"I can make things explode and feel emotions. Feeling emotions is something I can't turn off, unlike making stuff explode," Remy said, "Molly can turn into animals."
"How exciting! I'd love to see it later," Violet said. They were soon becoming more comfortable with each other. They got into how Remy and Molly met, what their time with the X-Men was like and a little bit of Molly's history. Then came the other stuff about Remy.
"There was a lot I needed to tell you in person too," Remy said, "I didn't have a great life. I bounced around orphanages and left at ten to live on the streets. I learned to steal quite well, and then got adopted by Jean-Luc LeBeau, the leader of the thieves guild. I'm sure you've heard of them. He used me for my powers until I left the guild at eighteen. I traveled for a while, then was offered a job to work for a real bad guy named Magneto. After all that, I joined the X-Men and reformed myself. I don't steal to live anymore, but it hasn't been an easy life. Fun sometimes, but not easy." Remy smiled sadly.
"I see," Violet said, "Well, we've had a lot to tell each other and I'm sure there's more to come. Today was a good start, but I need to get back to work. Weathersbee will help you get settled in. You and Molly have the guest suite with the biggest bed. I have a full staff, use any of the intercoms and they'll come. We have dinner at six-ish, think about what you want and it can be prepared, the chef can make anything."
"Oh, no. Molly and I don't sleep together. Separate rooms are fine. Uh, just to make things official, maybe you and I can go get some kind of DNA test tomorrow? Would that be okay?" Remy said. It would calm any suspicions Molly, he, or anyone else had and put it all to rest.
"You're a good boy, Remy. How considerate. Molly can have the room next door, it's just as comfortable. Of course, we can go get tested. I was going to suggest the same thing," Violet smiled, hugging them again, "Make yourselves at home. My house is your house."
Molly and Remy sat down on the bed in Remy's room. "Want to vent? Or just stew it over?" Molly demanded.
"Either? Both? I don't know what the right reaction is right now? How do you react to your grandpa kidnapping you, your parents not being together anymore, and finding out you also have a step-mom and two half-brothers?" Remy said. Maybe the others had been right. It was too suspect. Or maybe they'd gone about this too fast. Maybe Remy and Violet should've waited a week before meeting together.
"It's a lot to take in, but at least Violet wants you in your life. It sounds like your real dad does too. Remy, this was all I wanted for you. It would be a lot for anyone to process, so don't expect yourself not to get emotional over it or whatever. You can yell and cry, I won't judge," Molly said.
"First, I'm not going to cry over it," Remy said, touching her nose pointedly, "Second, my so-called grandpa sounds like a horrible person, but maybe that's where my conniving side came from. Why stealing came so easy to me. Why I didn't always have a conscience. But on the plus side, Violet is great and I think we're going to get along. I just hope Henry and I do as well." It still floored him that he would get to have a real dad in his life. One that wouldn't just use him to get money.
"That's right, focus on the positives. Let it all out, Remy." Molly coaxed him, a gentle hand to his face.
Remy breathed in, content to keep venting. He didn't want to stew over it. He'd had twenty-two years to do that. He wanted to talk it out. "I want to know everything about my parents, Molly. The good and bad. I want to know where they went to school, how they met. What their first date was like. Where did they elope? Why didn't she re-marry? Did they ever regret not making-up? Health issues, food allergies, do we like the same food and sports? And most importantly, does my dad have any male-pattern baldness on his side of the family? Because I'd like to keep my hair at least into my sixties." Remy ran his hand through his hair.
"Well, I'm sure you'll get all your questions answered soon enough. And I'd want you to keep your hair the rest of your days, but that's me," Molly smirked.
"Maybe I'll just shave it all off," Remy pulled her in, feeling better, "Go for a new look. Bring back the go-tee and seriously bug you."
"You do that and I'm never kissing you again," Molly growled, kissing him.
Remy felt like he suddenly had the whole world in his hands. A beautiful fiancee, two living parents, (not to mention one of them was rolling in money), siblings, friends and health, and happiness. If there was another shoe ready to drop in this scenario, Remy welcomed it. Nothing was going to bring him down.
The day wore on. The chef cooked them a simple lunch and they seemed to be waited on hand and foot all day. Remy couldn't even go to the kitchen for a glass of water without someone ushering him back upstairs saying they'd get it because "The Mistresses son was a guest and deserved the best treatment." Well, Remy was never one to turn down special treatment. They spent some hours taking in the arboretum and the sunny winter weather. The air was chilly but refreshing. A little after six PM, they were led to the dining room. Remy half expected one of those comical two-mile-long tables, but the dining table wasn't quite as long as the one back at the Institute. They had requested salad, pasta, mixed vegetables and Remy's favorite, extra spicy jambalaya for dinner.
Violet and Remy continued their conversation from earlier over dinner.
"You can ask me anything, Remy. I want to be open with you. No secrets." Violet said.
"How did you and Henry meet?" Remy asked, "And where did you elope to?"
"We met in fifth grade at Roger Fineway elementary. You know, over there on Peabody and Bourbon? Henry and I met in class and traded baseball cards and lunchbox food at recess.
We were inseparable and that friendship eventually turned into love, but love doesn't always last, even when you think it's going to. But, we were young and foolish. Maybe if we'd waited a little longer, we would've stayed together even with the interference we had. Anyway, we eloped in Alabama. It was the only state that could legally marry us at my age."
"Anything really important I should know? Health issues? Anybody in the family go bald?" Remy once again protectively, (and vainly), touched his hair.
"No, nobody's gone bald, dearest," Violet tittered a laugh, "Henry and I have always been in perfect health. He still plays with his boys like he's in his twenties.
I talked with him earlier and he wants to have us over for dinner tomorrow. He'd do it sooner, but his architect company is on a tight deadline this week and he's got a full workload."
"I know it might be a hard question, but why didn't you re-marry?" Remy gently asked.
"I just never found the right person, but I'm glad you did," Violet smiled at the couple, "My job keeps me busy. Maybe at some point, I'll date again, but I'm not very interested right now."
Remy moved onto the lighter things. Violet loved football, Henry was always more into baseball. His parents both liked spicy food, of course. Violet shared Remy's love of all the variety's of cuisine Lousiana had to offer. Remy had inherited his love of cooking from both of them. Violet and Henry didn't hugely love Jazz, but who ever had the same taste in music as their parents? Remy shared a lot of Violet's mannerisms and confidence, but he was informed much of his personality traits he received from Henry.
"...Oh yes," Violet smiled, "Henry was always a show-off and smooth. Good in a tight situation and smart as a whip. He went to a trade school for a while and got all A's in school before we got married. I guess I corrupted him a little. He barely finished high school but he got there. I didn't."
"That's another thing we have in common," Remy said, "I dropped out in my sophomore year. Stealing just became more important and I was bored."
"Yeah, Henry got bored easily too. Always energetic about something, always moving. He never seemed tired. Even now," Violet said, "I'm sorry you didn't graduate, Remy, but I can understand why."
"So, uh, how long were you married before I came along and everything went...badly?" Remy asked gently.
"Almost a year," Violet said, "Not long, but it was the happiest time of my life, that's for certain."
"I see," Remy nodded, "And you never dated anyone else?" Remy would've been surprised if anything otherwise had happened.
"Boys called on me, but I only had eyes for Henry. But, anyway, he's got a perfectly happy life without me in it," Violet smiled a little sadly. She felt left behind, abandoned. Remy could understand that. He didn't think she still had feelings for Henry, but he wouldn't have bet his life on it either. Violet just didn't seem satisfied with how her life had turned out.
"Well, if you ever want to start dating again, I'm behind you," Remy said, "Everyone deserves someone."
"Thank you," Violet said, "Oh, I dug out our wedding photos earlier and a few more. We'll look at them after dessert."
"Sounds good," Molly yawned, "I'm ready to hit the hay early tonight. It's been an emotional day for everyone, but especially Remy." She ran a hand over his hair.
"Can't argue with that, Cherie. Say, that reminds me. I know it's a shot in the dark,
and I'll still think myself Cajun otherwise, but, am I?" Remy dared to ask. It was a legitimate question, after all and he was quite curious.
"Of course, dear. Whole on my side, but only half on your father's. The rest is muddled, like most people. A little French-Canadian, some Native-American, a lot of random European countries down his line. Probably a tiny bit of African American in there somewhere, I imagine, since we're in the South and all."
"That's why I'm so cool," Remy smirked, feeling tired already.
After dessert, they poured through the photo albums.
"That's a bunch from the ceremony. There's my best friend Jeanne-Marie, and Henry's older brother Lucas. He's got three younger brothers-Nate, Kristoph, and Tim-so you have a lot of uncles. I was an only child. My parents wanted more kids, but momma had complications they couldn't fix back then, and daddy had his philandering days.-Sorry, I'm dumping everything on you at once again."
"I've had worse," Remy said, "But I'll tell you all that later on. Right now, I want to look at these pictures." This was Remy's history. What he'd always wanted to see. A time when his parents were happy and together.
"What about this one?" Remy held up a really old black and white photo. A man and a woman in 1900s clothes.
"That's your...three-times great grandparents on my side. Um...Pierre-Claude and Giselle," Victoria explained, "They continued the work started by his father that started our company, so you're a fifth-generation entrepreneur."
"Self-made man, I like that," Remy smiled.
"Self-made woman, actually," Violet winked, "The wife had the idea and ran all the business behind the scenes. The company was even in her name, but her husband had to be the figurehead since everyone believed women couldn't do things like that back then."
"Haha, you came from a feminist resisting the patriarchy," Molly pointed with a smirk. Remy squeezed her shoulder light-heartedly.
"It's not all about women, however. It was all sons up until me, and you've re-started the legacy it seems."
Remy held his right leg over his left. "Huh. How interesting."
They kept talking for a while, sharing stories and filling in more blanks. Remy shared more of his life, feeling more and more comfortable with his might-be mother.
"Well, we've got a big day tomorrow," Violet smiled, standing up and stretching her arms over her head, "I cleared my schedule for the next three days through the weekend. We can spend so much time together."
"Thank you," Remy smiled, "That's very generous."
They said their goodnights and everyone went to bed. Remy settled in quickly, the mattress being super comfortable with double padding. Molly was right, it had been an emotionally exhausting day for him, and for everyone involved. Tomorrow was going to be even more so, after meeting his real father. He couldn't wait.
AN: I really don't know which states do and don't marry not emancipated minors, Alabama just seems likely and it's close to Louisiana. Plus the 70s-80s were weird. Also, as I don't approve of pre-marital sex, this was a way to have an actual teenage pregnancy too soon without leaving morals at the door. And, clearly, they were both 17 at the time, so nothing icky or weird going on, even though it is child-marriage by definition, it's two teenagers marrying each other, got it? A bit weird to anyone that's not me, I know, but I'm sure it happens in rare instances. Lastly, I wasn't going to give Remy siblings originally, but it felt right. The idea was always there to have his parents either broken up or one of them not be alive, but I wanted Remy to have a mostly happy ending in the series to his own life, so I had to keep them both alive in the end. It would've been a little TOO perfect if they'd stayed together, you know? Hope the backstory is satisfying. I thought making it complex and odd fit Remy. Might take away some of his mystery, but it's not cannon, it's fannon, so whatever.
