Chapter three: We're Leaving

Rogue made it back to Irene's house in record time, driving the supped up boxer made her miss the old days of immature behavior and selfish decisions. It wasn't a particularly safe car, Olivier didn't know the difference he was passed out the whole time.

Walking up the stairs with Olivier in her hands to Irene's floor, it was becoming clear to Rogue that another set up was at work. Irene begging her out of the blue to come to Paris to see her seemed spurious. Irene guided Rogue the whole time she was staying there, telling her new sights in different parts of the city, insisting that Rogue visit before she left. Even when Rogue wasn't up for Irene would still insist, particularly the open market where she coincidently meet Remy. Irene's apartment was on the second floor yet walk up them, felt like mountain climb. Each step only angering her more, she had been betrayed by a figure that she looked up too.

Entering the apartment Rogue turned the lights on it was after four in the morning and Rogue was showing no curtsey. Making as much noise as she could after she put Olivier to bed, he could sleep throw an earthquake.

"Rogue is it necessary to make so much noise?" Irene asked entering the kitchen, she was elderly woman, thin but strong. She was blind but had the gift to see images in the future.

"Was it necessary for you to set me up?"

Rogue slammed a cupboard door. She had no intention of making anything or eating she just wanted to make as much noise of possible.

"That wasn't fair Irene you know how I feel about him. I can believe that you guilt tripped me into coming… for this! "

"That's why I did it because I know the truth."

"Don't start don't even start that density crap!"

"Yell if you want too, he has a right to know…" Irene wrapped her body in her robe.

"This isn't about what you think."

"Or what you think!" Irene bit back. "It's about Olivier and despite what you think I did it for him I love that child….he's smart Marie it's only a matter of time before he figures it out."

Irene stood behind Rogue and placed her hand on her shoulder. "Red on black eyes is rare."

"I'll make sure it won't get that far." Rogue brushed off her hand. "I know you think its best but it isn't….not for him I won't let him see another male figure walk away…."

"Sweetie…."

"No! I won't let him be introduced to that false since of happiness."

"Running away won't help you heal and it will do nothing good for Olivier."

"I'm leaving in the morning Irene and I'm done talking about this with you." Rogue moved to leave the kitchen.

"Wait…" Irene called out. "How did it feel when you saw him?"

Rogue's chin trembled at the thought; it was a beautiful sin feeling Remy's warm lips pressed against her own. It was something amazing that she shouldn't have been allowed to experience.

"You already know the answer…" Rogue's voice changed, it was lower and more distance.

"Did you talk about…" Irene cleared her thought "…that night?"

"You know I can't talk about that with anyone…."

"Don't do this, you've come so far."

"You're the one who pushed me back by bring Remy into my life you know that I don't deserve him."

It was her past Rogue was running from, letting go of Remy was Rogue's way to pay for her pass crimes, she eventually came to terms with her actions. The actions that led to what was preserved as Remy's death. She buried her additions and forgave herself enough to piece together a semi normal lifestyle. Forcing herself to say away from Remy, to afraid of the addictions of pass would resurface.

"I don't want my son to live in the shadows of my past." In the end it all came back to protecting Olivier and sparing him the burden of both his parents heavy past.

"Olivier is the closest thing to Remy I will…" she corrected herself "That I will ever need."

Rogue had nothing left to say to Irene and Irene couldn't offer advice that Rogue was willing to accept. They both stood in silence thinking it would pass, time passed but nothing else changed. Rogue did the only thing she could do before things turned worse. She left. Rogue went into the spare room and cuddled up to her son he was the most important thing after all, herself sacrifice was done to better him. She would gladly lay down her own life to secure a safe future for him.

The next morning Rogue and Olivier said their good-byes to Irene and beautiful city of Paris. They were going home back to the Xavier School for gifted youngsters, where they resided.

Rogue had bigger problems to think about she had to find a new place to live it would only be a matter of time before Remy came to the mansion, asking questions about them. She had a few days at most before he would show up but that wasn't the issue, moving would take Olivier from the only family he had ever known. She didn't want him to suffer for her actions.

Getting out the cab was the first time Rogue let go of the breath she was holding. She never realized how much she loved that place until she left. Olivier was excited too, sure he didn't have the camera with all his pictures but he was still going to brag and tell anyone who would listen about his adventures.

Olivier headed straight for the Rec room upon entering, looking for Logan and Kurt. While Rogue was stalled by the grim face of Storm accompanied by the Professor as she entered the kitchen.

"I guess you're not going to ask about my vacation?" She dropped her bags.


"That sounds amazing Olivier." Kitty Pryde told him.

Kurt, Logan and other X-Men sat watching Olivier reenact his whole trip in detail.

"Wish I had my camera, this sword it was like…this big" he got on his tip toes for his dimension. "Maybe bigger!"

"That big huh…"

"Yeah it was so cool, and then we walking and walking and got sun glasses then…" he jumped up and down "Then… I meet this man, he was tall…"

"Oh hmmm"

"Yeah he was cool he played cards and had the biggest house ever!" he couldn't stay in one spot overdone with excitement. "And he would say Chere all the time" he put on his best Remy imitation.

Kurt, Kitty and Logan eyed each other spaciously. The person Olivier was talking about seemed familiar but the odds were unrealistic.

"You remember his name kid?"

Logan old gruff voice stopped his jumping. And Olivier paused for a minute then ran out the room. Sprinting back he held in his hand a pack of playing cards.

"Mr. Gambit" he tried desperately to sound French. "And guess what!" Olivier twirled a card and threw them with out aim around the room. "He has eyes like me!!"

"Gambit?" Kitty was stunned.

"Gambit…" Kurt was confused

"Gambit."

"Gambit Cher." Olivier tossed a card to Kitty and bowed to her. It was impressive, Olivier had just met Remy and had him nailed on first impression.

"Glad to see that you remember it Oli…" a Cajun voice broke the tension to prove what they were all thinking.

"Gambit!" Olivier ran over and gave him a high five. "You here to see mom?" He asked.

"That and to bring back your camera."

Remy took out the small sliver and black camera from his trench coat pocket. Bending down he gave it to the overjoyed and now more energized Olivier, who ran right back to group he was talking to. However they were too busy blankly staring at the Cajun charmer, to fully listen to Olivier's tales.

No one knew the appropriate way to respond how does someone respond in that situation? It was like the second time Remy had returned from the dead. Kurt and Kitty sat uncomfortably shifting their looks from Olivier to Gambit, the look was uncanny. Gambit politely smiled at them then turned all his energy to listening to Olivier it only made the moment more awkward.

The group humored Olivier the best they could, watching his presentation of his vacation. Closer to the end of the slideshow of pictures Remy exited the room quietly, not wanting to explain the whole diametric reveal of how he came to realization that Olivier was indeed his son.

Logan caught the Cajuns disappearance and followed him. Logan wasn't anybody, he knew what was going on. He answered the door when Remy arrived late in the night the day before and was there when the Professor made his verdict that Remy had his blessing to stay.

"You're staying then."

"You going to start something?" Remy was spearing no prisoners when it came to his decision to stay.

"About time…" Logan handed him a cigar.

Logan never judged Rogue for actions passed or present, it was holding a son away from his father that he didn't like. Remy wasn't always high on Logan's totem pole, then again he only knew Remy briefly, but being a father changes people and watching Remy brief interaction with Olivier moved Remy an inch higher on his totem pole.

With Remy's odd thieves mentality of honor Logan was giving him one shot to stand up to his responsibilities.

"You walk out on that kid or her I'll gut you where you stand." Logan warned, just in case.

Remy smiled he knew that the old Logan would surface soon enough. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

Logan and Remy went to the kitchen talking periodically, then Rogue came in moments later.

"Give me and the Cajun a minute Logan…"

Rogue eyes were filled with venom. Logan left shaking his head at the two watching them was like watching live foreplay, he could never fully understand their relationship.

"I knew you would show up didn't think it would be this soon." Rogue cocked her head on an angle.

"Fatherhood changes a man."

"You don't even know his birthday? His favorite food, color, sport nothing you're no closer to fatherhood then I am willing to let you into my bed."

"Who's fault is that, despite everything I'm here."

Remy pulled out his deck of cards and shuffling them. Rogue remembered Remy shuffling habit; he did when frustrated or stressed. Watching him shuffle the deck of card infuriated Rogue to her Remy had nothing to be stressed or upset about.

"I don't know how you swung that with the Professor but I will say this once, stay out of my way…"

"It isn't about you chere remember? I'm here for the little boy with my eyes…"

Remy left the kitchen a bit more satisfied with himself for laying his ground and defining his terms. He never thought that it would be Rogue he would be deifying.

"Check and mate" Kitty came threw the cupboard wall with a bag of chips. "Got to hand it to him he is ambitious."

"Who's side are you on!?" Rogue snatched the chips from her hands. It was not the welcome home party she was expecting.