Chapter five: Breakfast

Remy honored his vow to stay away.

His alarm clock flash seven AM and he was not talking cartoons over ham and eggs with Olivier. Remy had gotten custom to act of breakfast with Olivier that not being at the table by now was appalling to him. He stuck it though, with the idea that the end would justify the means, yes he was suffering now but with time if his plan worked it he would experience a real life soon.

Remy watched Olivier from a distance, sneaking in a wave and warm smile once in while. Despite Remy's blue mood and Olivier constantly asking questions about Remy, Rogue kept her head high. No one else could seem to understand why she was doing what she was doing,why she was denying herself what her heart wanted. Rogue never felt compelled to answer their burning questions it was her own life. She wasn't a monster though; she sensed Remy's distress when he walked away from a room or a conversation because she was there or Olivier's sad face when Remy wouldn't stay. It was taking its toll, slowly clawing at her conscious.

It was a lazy Saturday morning and Rogue sat at the breakfast table having another warm heart to heart with Storm. Since their last blow out fight Storm apologized only for not telling Rogue about her true feelings sooner. Storm had been working on Rogue to allow mediocre time between Remy and Olivier. It was starting to hit Rogue, epically of late. Rogue had a full day of earns to run and training. The team had decided to cast a shut out. They didn't approve of Rogue behavior or treatment towards Remy. If she needed someone to watch Olivier even briefly they would refuse and come up with a quick lie for why they can't.

Adding to the stress her mother Mystique Rogue's mother an enemy to the X-men resurfaced recently and called wanting to meet Rogue on neutral terms. Rogue usually would say no instantly or so she told herself but her mother was offering inside consult of that faithful day when Rogue was forced to chose between her mother's life and her lover Remy. Storm suggested that it would give her closure but to keep in mind whatever her mom says is tainted, after what 'choosing' to let Remy die did to Rogue both mentally and physically, no one wanted to see her venture done that path again.

"Morning mama."

Olivier greeted his mother with a kiss and then hugged Storm good morning. Rogue was overdone to have Olivier he was her biggest blessing, she deeply believed that she could never do her son harm like her own mother did to her.

"Morning sweetheart, you want me to fix you some breakfast?"

"No, I wanna make cereal." He was very intelligent and self-reliant for a child, but that happens when you're raised with X-Men.

"Rogue you know the similarity is ridiculous?"

"What? What do you mean?" They watched as Olivier attended to his breakfast.

He pulled a chair over to the cupboard and got his things for his breakfast blend. Olivier added coco squares cereal, chocolate milk, extra brown sugar and dropped in chucks of banana in. Rogue and Storm stomached turned at the sight but didn't let their face reflect their feeling.

"You're denying Olivier the same way your mother denied you."

"Ah…I'm an nothing like her." Rogue voiced sternly trying to hide their conversation from Olivier.

"Your actions do reflect her in away forbidding him from being Remy someone he obviously cares about"

Rogue was speechless and offended at the allegations. She was nothing like her mother, she was doing this to protect Olivier.

"I am his mother Storm and I'm doing to do whatever it takes to protect him from that low-life…"

Rogue never finished her sentence because she then realize that was the same speech her mother give her, Mystique then forbid her from seeing Remy. Rogue was stunned into silence and sat perfectly still reflecting on all that she had done. Strom leaned back in her chair smiling it had taken weeks but she finally got Rogue to face her own twisted reflection.

"Morning Oli- Olivier" Kitty had gotten used to calling Oliver Oli but knew Rogue hated it. "What are oh gosh…" The bowl of cereal looked like chunky mud.

"Want some?" He offered her a spoon full.

"No, thanks" she waved her hand and rushed to the seat next to Rogue.

"Can I watch TV?" He asked his mom holding up the oversized bowl.

"Yeah go ahead." They all held in their grossed feelings until Olivier was out of sight.

Storm cracked and started to laugh, then Kitty joined. "How can he eat that?"

"I don't know but he loves it…" Rogue shook her head in disbelief.

Remy entered from the opposite side of the kitchen, he didn't see Rogue but when the giggled died down and she turned sluggishly when Kitty pointed behind her. He broke pass their rut and stayed even though he could sense the awkwardness in the air. Remy mixed a bowl of cereal while they all avoided eye contact with him. Although girls never directly looked at Remy they watched his actions pretty hard. He was going to stay and eat at the table but changed his mind last minute when Kitty stared like guppy fish at his food. He decided to go and watch TV instead. Rogue had occupied Olivier's Saturday's too since their fight so he assumed he would have the den to himself.

"Rogue…" Storm voiced had a quiver she was so taken back by Remy.

"I know, I know." Rogue got up from the table and forced herself to sallow her pride and went after Remy.

"If the eyes didn't give it away, their strange taste in food would." Storm told Kitty. Remy and Olivier made the same meal with different portions.

"Yeah, that cereal goop looks like….I rather not say." She placed her hand over mouth trying to stomach the muffin she had been eating.

Rogue stood at the passageway looking in at Remy and Oliver they sat crossed legged in front of the TV watching Monkey Man. They would laugh at the same jokes and gasp at identical times. She couldn't pretend anymore.

"Remy…" she called out, clearing her throat.

Remaining clam Remy placed down his bowl and went to Rogue.

"It's just cartoons I didn't even know that…" Rogue put her hand to her lips and pulled Remy into the hall.

"It isn't that." She told him against the wall.

"Then what?" Remy eyes ran over her face trying to read the directions of her thoughts.

"Ah….I have some earns to run and I can't find anyone, would you mind watching him." She twirled her hair in her fingers shyly, years later and Rogue's nervous habit never changed.

Remy didn't gloat that his plan of separation and withdrawal worked out in favor. He knew that for to put away her fears was a big step for her. Instead he stayed satisfied holding Rogue's arm. It gave him deep feelings of contentment. Remy pulled her hand from her hair held it, their bound hands fell between them.

Rogue continued to wear gloves even though she didn't have too. It was to cover the scars she tried to run from, the scars that covered her hands and plagued her mind with guilt. Remy ran his thumb over her palm. Slowly their head graveled in and Remy connected their foreheads together. Rogue wasn't sure how she found herself in that situation but she conformed even if for a minute.

Some how thank you didn't fit the mood to Remy, words couldn't describe how his heart felt that second. Remy had been in the mansion almost four months and right then was the only time he could truly say that he missed Rogue. Her grip on his hand was all the proof Remy needed to know that Rogue reciprocated the feeling.