3
Merci was a talker. Where Henri had barely needed to say anything to her, Merci had said all the questions Rogue could have had about her current predicament and more. She had managed to tell Merci half the story and the woman picked up on the rest. Merci was kind and sympathetic. She assured Rogue that they would help her get her memories back and, until then, she could stay with the LeBeaus. Rogue wasn't quite sure if that was Merci's call to make, but she sure did seem to have a lot of pull over the household.
She graced Rogue with all kinds of sweet luxuries. Moisturising and heavenly scented bath bombs especially crafted in Canada, professional shampoos and conditioners from Italy, soft Turkish bath towels and cloths. Even the clothes were rich and lavish. Merci talked Rogue into wearing linen pyjamas for bed that were from France with matching slippers to go with it. To Merci, it seemed more like having a close friend staying over for the night, rather than a stranger just walking in off the street. Rogue couldn't help but question if she was one or the other.
Merci was being ever so gentle as she brushed her fingers through Rogue's hair to untangle the knots that had formed. For some reason, it felt ever so sweeter than having a simple brush comb through her hair. This action of Merci's and her ability of finding millions of topics she wanted to discuss, like what colours flattered both herself and Rogue the most, made Rogue really begin to lean towards the second feeling of being a close family friend.
Henri had to come and knock on the guest room door to pull their attention away. Merci checked with Rogue first before allowing him in.
When Henri did poke his head in to see the girls sat on cushions on the floor with Merci styling Rogue's hair, he smiled. Not only at how attentive and caring the woman he was marrying was, but at how much more relaxed and calmer Rogue seemed. The tense arching of her shoulders had gone and she looked rather dreamy. He had a feeling Merci was putting her to sleep faster than the events of her whole day were.
"Tante wants de deux of y' down for supper. No words against it," Henri said.
Rogue's eyebrows came together at this new information.
"We'll be right there," Merci said, dismissing Henri.
As Merci was finishing up Rogue's hair, she went into a long explanation of who Tante was. She also explained how to survive the woman and made jabs at Henri and Remy who never warned her how the woman could be.
With the mention of Remy's name, Rogue found herself circling her problems again. She wondered why she hadn't meet Remy LeBeau yet. Did he not want to see her? Did she want to see him?
Rogue now honestly wished she could forget about her missing memories and just live in the moment with Merci. The stress of not knowing a thing, it was just so burdensome.
Merci gave Rogue one of her fluffy robe before they headed downstairs to the kitchen, Merci leading the way, telling stories about her first walks around the mansion.
Before they even got close to the kitchen, Rogue smelled the aromas of spices and herbs. Henri was already sat down at the kitchen table, speaking away in French to the woman who was by the stove.
"We have company, tante," Henri said, giving the two women's entrance away.
Tante spun around, searching for and finding Rogue's face. As soon as she saw her, a large smile that was so full of life and happiness grew on her face.
"Come in. Sit! Take a seat!" Tante said, picking up a dish cloth to wipe her hands on as she stepped away from the stove. When she noticed Henri not getting up to offer the women a seat, she whipped that cloth so fast and so hard against Henri's shoulder, he bounced up and away. He pulled out chairs for the women, understanding Tante's warning gaze.
Merci was smirking smugly at Henri as she took her seat. Rogue kept her head down, feeling slightly uncomfortable at what was unfolding. She quickly pulled a chair out before Henri could grab one and sat down next to Merci.
Tante had been walking around and was now looming over Rogue's shoulder. Rogue shuck a little as she felt a hand press firm, but gently on her shoulder. Rogue turned her head up to look at Tante. Her smile had become calmer. Gentler than the beaming one she had on before.
"Relax chil'," Tante said, "y' be in good hands."
There was something about Tante that was just so magical. Maybe it was her touch. Maybe it was those chestnut orbs that she found herself lost in. Either way, Rogue just felt a warmth enter her body. Like the bubble bath did an amazing job cleansing her body, Tante was doing an incredible job cleansing her soul.
After a pause, Rogue responded to Tante. For the first time that night, Rogue shot Tante a genuine smile. One that was happy. One that was carefree.
"Ah know," slipped out of Rogue's mouth which only made Tante smile more.
Rogue and Tante's exchange lasted a little longer, before Tante pulled away. Rogue turned to see Merci wrapped under Henri's arm and both were glancing at her with smiles of their own.
"Tante has dat effect on people. She be a gift from de heavens," Henri said, now moving to follow Tante around the kitchen.
Tante's chuckle came deep from within her. Although she told Henri to stop teasing, Rogue could really see what Henri was getting at.
Within moments, Tante had presented a bowl of homemade chicken soup before Rogue along with a plate of sliced no-knead bread. Everything looked and smelled amazing.
Rogue halted herself though until Tante sat down with them to eat.
"Eat chil'!" Tante ordered, "No use lettin' y' meal go cold now."
Rogue shot Tante another smile then finally got to taste the mouth-watering food that had been tormenting her senses. At Rogue's "hmph," Tante's work had been done and she couldn't be more pleased.
"Dat cursed garçon still not back?" Tante asked Henri, seeming to look a little bit disappointed now.
"Non Tante," Henri answered with familiarity.
"Hmph!" Tante huffed, "Dat boy, an' his pére, be in need of some serious schoolin'."
"There phones be off. T'ink pére took Remy out on one a his talks again," Henri explained.
"That ain't no excuse!" Tante snapped, pointing her spoon at Henri.
Tante's irritation shifted as she turned her attention back to Rogue.
"Now hon'y chi', y' be probably wonderin' where dat bon à rien gone an' run off to," Tante said, rolling her eyes at the reference to Remy and his father. "Well, I tell y' now, he ain't runnin' from y'. He an' that father a his just be buttin' heads somewhere again like de deux imbéciles they are! Don't cha worry none 'bout it! We be here for y' while y' wait. Y' got a place under this roof as long as y' need one."
"Till they're return," Tante said, looking a little sadden now, "I'm 'fraid all we can do for y' is answer any questions y' have as best we can an' hope y' memories come back in time."
Rogue nodded her head, starting to understand what was happening with Remy LeBeau.
"So, do they, erm, take walks often?" Rogue asked.
Rogue heard a snort, amused huff and a chuckle around the table. The three obviously were sharing a joke she wasn't involved in, of course.
"They have a complexe deux be so alike in head smarts an' stubbornness, but so different in their views," Merci explained. "Henri's pére normally takes Remy out on, erm, well, how much do y' remember?"
Rogue's eyebrow went up as she tried to think of anything. But nothing calm. Rogue shuck her head, no.
"We be thieves, petite," Henri said, earning himself glares. "What? She best know who she be dealin' with. 'sides, I just state she noticed mon swipin' wallets if pére asks."
"Y' think Remy woulda let it slip before?" Merci asked the other two.
Tante was watching Rogue. Staring at her. Rogue meet her eye, not shying away this time. The situation might have been awkward, but it didn't feel that way around the people sat in the room with her.
"She knew. Whether Remy intended her t' know or not, I reckon y' be une fille intelligente."
Rogue smiled once again, catching Tante's drift.
"Y' ain't nervous 'round us now, are ya?" Merci asked, seeming generally concerned about Rogue's opinion which Rogue thought was sweet.
"Why on earth would ah think badly of people who took meh in off the streets, clothed meh, feed meh and just shown meh so much kindness any one person could'a hoped for?" With that, Rogue put down her spoon and looked around the table with a serious glint to her eye. "What y' really should be hearin' outta meh, which ah don't think ya have yet, is how thankful an' grateful ah am for everythin' y'all have done for meh. Thank y'!"
"Now that be enough of dat," Tante said, fanning Rogue's words away with a deep blush on her bashful cheeks. "If y' be tryna romance us hon'y chil' then y' be doin' a stand up performance. But y' ain't got need t' thank us. We just be doin' what's right."
"Y'didn't have ta welcome meh in ta your home. Ya could'a just left meh to that knife wheldin' creep on the streets," Rogue said.
"Hold up," Merci said, and Rogue realised she hadn't filled Merci in on the attack on her earlier. "What y' talkin' 'bout?"
"Julian an' de rippers went after her dis evenin'. Girl sure didn't hold back on em. She be pullin' moves neither Remy or moi could," Henri said, easing his wife slightly, but not completely.
"Those damn rippers!" Merci near hissed. "Well, ain't nona them gonna stop us from shoppin' tomorrow." Merci said, indicating to Rogue. "We'll getcha dat wardrobe. We'll just be havin' t' stick t' our turf an' they shouldn't be a bother."
Rogue's eyebrow rose at Merci's statement.
"Shoppin'?" Rogue questioned.
"A fille needs her options," Merci said. "'sides, it look like y' be stayin' here for some time. We ain't gonna force y' t' wear the same clothes every day, right Tante?"
"Y' know it is. Y' memories gonna take time t' return an' we won't have y' goin' without. Y' be sure t' treat her well, Merci!" Tante warned Merci.
Merci held her hands up in defence at Tante's command, but her smirk was playful.
"Ah-ah'm sorrah, but ah don't think ah can accept that offer. Y'all have already done so much-"
Tante had risen her finger up at Rogue though, halting her.
"Ain't one more word from y'!" She ordered. "Merci gonna take good care'a y' an' show y' a good time." Tante took her hand away and a sober look crossed her face, "from the strain y' been under girl," she said, as if seeing straight through her, all the way to Rogue's soul, "y' be deservin' kindness."
Rogue swallowed, but didn't lower her head like she wanted to. She wasn't sure where her confidence was coming from, but she could feel it slowly growing the longer she was around these people.
"Well, alright. But as soon as mah memories come back, ah promise, ah'll make it up t' y'-"
"Not one more word!" Tante commanded with a very serious look in her eyes that challenged Rogue. "Eat up hon'y chil'. Y' foods goin' cold an' I don't warm up left overs."
A chuckled escaped Henri. Merci was rolling her eyes at him, obviously knowing her fiancé too well.
"Y' just got y' first orders from Tante. Formidable woman, ain't she?" Henri stated.
Tante's seriousness seemed to drop as she rolled her eyes at Henri.
"Now don't y' go startin' on me, boy! Y' ain't too old to go over my knee," Tante said.
"I just be helpin'," Henri pleaded.
"Y' know, shoppin be good for de soul!" Merci declared, letting Tante and Henri have their own tassel while she focused on Rogue. "Never know, could come across a robe lavende or a pair of talons noirs that could spark somethin' up here," Merci said, pointing at her head. "Or, don't have t' be clothes. Y' like books? Ain't much of a book person moi même, but there be dis peitite café I know dat have walls full'a books y' can read while y' enjoy'a latte épicé à la cannelle. Y' like coffee, Rogue?"
This got Rogue thinking. Coffee. She knew what it was, but did she drink it? Her body felt odd at the mention of the word. It felt heavier and craving something. A smile grew on Rogue's face as she felt like that was a clue.
"Y'know, ah think ah do," Rogue said, beaming as the words coming from her mouth just seemed to feel so right. Her body sure did seem to agree with that too. It felt like it has fighting her to get coffee.
A dry laugh escaped Rogue, then Merci laughed, then Rogue's laugh grew and Henri was jumping up out of his seat as he tried to back away from an irritated Tante.
"What in blazes be so damn-" A man voice demanded firmly and rather angrily, only to halt in mid sentence.
Rogue's smile fell at the voice that silenced everyone, even Tante. She looked up at the man who had a mustache and brown hair tided back in a ponytail. He was staring at her in what seemed to be utter disbelief. Rogue found herself curling inwards again under those small, examining eyes. Was this Remy LeBeau?
"Well, this be an interestin' twist," said a man stood behind the first who had entered.
Rogue's eyes glanced over towards that man who moved to lean against the door frame lazily. He was wearing a long brown trench coat that hid most of his body and his hair seemed to be spiking out from the top of the face mask he wore. He had a small smirk on his face, but it didn't seem like he massively amused. More curious. His eyes were… different. Ebony and crimson eyes that stared at her in puzzlement and amusement.
Y' right, dis be une merveilleuse surprise," the man in front of the ebony and crimson eyed man said.
Rogue still watched the the ebony and crimson eyed man, even as the first one spoke. There was something about him that made her intrigued by him, and she didn't believe it was just because of his eyes. She watched how his little smirk seemed to fade more as his attention turned on to the man before him.
The next thing Rogue knew, the first man who had spoken was before her and her hand had been swept up with a kiss being planted on it. If the hand kissing wasn't strange enough, the man seemed to miss Rogue's bare hand almost completely as he took hold of her by hr covered wrist and kissed the edge of her robe.
As Rogue glanced up, into the first man's eyes she felt her breath caught in her throat. Those small, yet intense orbs that stared into her were mesmorising. She felt trapped within their intensity.
"Mademoiselle," he whispered as he pulled away from her hand. "To what do we owe de pleasure?"
Rogue hadn't realised her jaw had fallen open a jar and her cheeks burned red.
"Leave her be, Jean-Luc," said the ebony and crimson eyed man.
His warning tone and the dangerous sparks of red that appeared in his eyes as they narrowed on Jean-Luc brought Rogue out of her trance. She pulled her hand away, feeling as if she'd just received a shock by electricity or something.
"It be 'bout time y' two be showin' y' faces 'round here!" Tante snapped, huffing and planting her fists on her hips. "Y' had us all t'inkin' we wouldn't be seein' y' till dawn."
"Désole Tante, but we be discussin' business," Jean-Luc said as he pulled out a chair next to Rogue.
Rogue found herself edging away from him. There was something about this man, Jean-Luc. Something about the way that other guy had glared at him. Warned him off her. It made her uncomfortable.
"If I'd'a known we be entertainin' company, I would'a been here sooner," he said, still staring at Rogue.
Rogue feeling his eyes on her, refused to look at him. She felt like getting trapped in the intensity of his eyes was a mistake. Instead, she spared a moment to glance over at Merci who didn't look amused by the man either. Her scowl was less noticeable than Tante's or the man by the doorway, but it was there.
"If y' answered y' phone, wouldn't a been une probleme," Henri informed Jean-Luc, taking a seat back at the table.
"Oui, oui, y' be right. I apologise. But nona y' answered mon question. What dis lovely lady be doin' down our neck'a the woods?" he asked.
Rogue opened her mouth to answer, but words didn't come out. In fact, her eyes drifted back over to the ebony and crimson eyed man, noticing his eyebrows had lowered and come together as if trying to work something out.
"She lost her memories, an' we be helpin' her till she has em back," Merci said for Rogue.
Rogue took in how Merci had sat back more in her chair with her arms folded. She also took in how Jean-Luc's eyes rolled over towards her. His tight smile never fell, but something changed.
"Merci! Y' still be here? Thought y'd'a run off home by now, hmmm?" he questioned.
Rogue's facial muscles twitched at this. Merci didn't live here?
"She be stayin' over de night. Merci an' Rogue have plans in de morn'. Best she stay here den travel to an' fro'. Especially wit' it bein' so late," Herni said, wrapping an arm around Merci's back.
Rogue wasn't too sure what was going on. There was a heavy tension in the room now which she'd been fearful of causing. The way the couple opposite her seemed to glare daggers at the man who just entered and seem perched in their seats, unwilling to be moved, were two completely different people than the two teases she had been speaking with moments ago.
A hand slipping onto Rogue's shoulder made her jump a little. The calmness filled her instantly, even before she glanced up at Tante.
"Henri makes a point. It be late. Merci, why don't y' take Rogue back up t' her room, hmmm. Y' two anges get settled in for t' night," Tante said, having turned her attention from Rogue, to Jean-Luc and lastly to Merci.
Merci nodded her head, standing. Rogue glanced up at Tante, seeing her eyes and lips were firm. This wasn't something negotiable.
Rogue went to stand and pass Jean-Luc when his hand shot out and grabbed her covered wrist. Rogue found herself caught in his intense gaze once more.
"Now I ain't got no problem wit' deux fine belles sleepin' under mon roof, but I think a little explanation be owed, non?" Jean-Luc said.
"Let 'em go pére," Henri said, sounding more tired from irritation than anything. "I'll fil y' both in on what y' miss. Let de ladies sleep."
Reluctantly, Jean-Luc let go of Rogue's wrist and she was able to pull away from his eyes. Merci was by Rogue's side leading her away.
"Bonne nuit, précieuse," Rogue heard the words called out from behind her.
Rogue's attention fell on the man who was still stood leaning in the door way. His puzzlement was now a lot more obvious than it was before. Their eyes met as she passed him before Merci lead her out of the room and guided her back up the stairs.
xxxxx
French Translations
Deux - Two
Garçon - Boy
Pére - Father
Bon à rien - Good for Nothing
Imbéciles - Fools
Complexe - Complicated
Petite - Small One
Une fille intelligente - A smart girl
Moi - Me
Fille - Girl
Robe lavende - Lavender Dress
Talons noirs - Black Heels
Moi même - Myself
Peitite café - Little Café
Latte épicé à la cannelle -Spicy Cinnmon Latte
Une merveilleuse surprise -A wonderful suprise
Mademoiselle - Miss
Désole - Sorry
Oui - Yes
Anges - Angels
Belles - Beauties
Bonne nuit précieuse- Good night precious