Anya was looking around as Remy led her through the streets of New Orleans. A small jazz band was playing on the corner of a street. "This is amazing!" Anya giggled as she swung back and forth to the tune. Remy grabbed her hand when the band slowed down to a sultry tune. Anya and Remy danced in the street, drawing plenty of attention. Remy stopped dead when he felt a familiar pair of eyes. Anya stopped and looked at him, wondering what could have sent those chills down her spine too.
"Remy, what's wrong?" Anya whispered, too scared to raise her voice. "Nothin' chere. But we need ta move." Remy said as he grasped her wrist and led her away even with the crowd protesting. Once they had gotten a small distance away a hand flew out to rest on Remy's shoulder. "Etienne, you should know betta than to sneak up on a t'ief." Remy said before laughing and turning to hug his cousin.
"Remy ya dog you. What ya doin' back down in Nawlins?" Etienne asked as he stepped out of the hug. Remy just turned and looked at Anya. "Rogue, chere, what did ya do ta your hair?" Etienne playfully picked up a strand and swatted it in her face. Anya blushed and took a step back. "Etienne, dat is non Rogue. Dat is Anya. It be a long story cousin." Remy said as he saw Etienne's mouth open in protest. "Let's go see da family and tell dis story only once, non?" Remy smiled as he turned to head down a path he knew by heart. Anya noticed the way Remy kept looking over his shoulder.
When they made it deep into New Orleans they had to take a boat to cross the swamp to where the LeBeau house was located. Anya sat quietly in the middle of the boat, Etienne in the front pointing out everything to her and giving animated descriptions. Remy was in the back of the boat, steering past the traps and avoiding low hanging trees since Etienne was standing and pointing at multiple things now. Anya kept glancing back, taking notice of Remy's extreme discomfort. Once the house came into view she could see Remy physically relax.
"Well chere, here it be, da LeBeau humble abode." Etienne spoke as he hopped off the boat before Remy had even anchored it. "Etienne, you better settle down. Don't want Tante Mattie to have t'fish you out da swamp again." Remy chuckled before helping Anya out of the boat then following. "Come chere, time to meet my family." Remy didn't sound as enthused as he had before. "Remy, Jean-Luc is non here." Etienne calmly spoke as he checked out the yard.
"Remy planned it dat way." Remy said as he walked away from Etienne's knowing eyes. "Jean-Luc? You're Daddy? Don't ya want meh to meet dem all Remy?" Anya asked. "Non, chere dere are some dat just don't need an introduction." Remy replied with a calmly steel voice as he opened the front door of the mansion. Remy quickly ducked out of the way as a frying pan came whizzing past. Anya wasn't nearly as lucky as she ended up hit square in the forehead. Tante's voice rang out. "Remy LeBeau! Look at what yah did boy. Yah just had tah move and now de petite is da one in pain!" Tante scolded as she made her way to the group.
"Come now child, a pan to da head be non da best way to meet someone, eh?" Tante asked as she fluttered about Anya like a mother hen. Anya just laughed. "It's fahne, ahm fahne." Anya said as she waved off the caring woman. "Please, don't worry about meh." She smiled and Tante went over to Remy. "Yah dang boy. How many times have I told yah to come and visit Tante, but no. Now you bring some petite along and expect me not to demand answers?"
Remy just laughed. "Don't worry Tante, Remy promises all de answers you want and more. But first, her name is Anya." Remy's voice was filled with passion as her name rolled off his tongue. "Oh, Tante sees what goes on." She raised a knowing eyebrow and just shook her head at Remy. "You owe many explanations boy, but over dinner." Tante bustled back to the kitchen and finished stirring her gumbo. Remy walked over and kissed Anya's forehead. "You bien chere?" He asked looking deep into her eyes.
"Ah'm fahne, really. It was just ah little pan." Anya smiled as she gently tapped her head. Remy just kissed the top of her head and moved back. "Remy's goin' ta help Tante in da kitchen, petit. You stay right there." He spoke before moving to the kitchen. Anya looked around and caught Etienne's eye. He waved and took the seat across from her. "So chere, let's hear bout you and Remy." Anya looked a bit nervous before starting the long story.
"Remy, you could have called. We've all been worried bout you." Tante scolded as she began to ladle out hot gumbo. "Remy knows Tante, but Remy's had a lot on his mind. Got to understand Tante, got a lot dat needed figured out." Remy spoke with a voice heavy with burden. Tante took one look at him before wrapping her thick arms around his shoulders in a deep hug. Remy softened into her embrace. "But dat don' mean dat you two will be sharing a room in dis house. We taught you better den dat Remy." Tante scolded, trying to ease the mood. Remy just laughed as he moved to set the table.
Dinner was a quiet affair in the LeBeau house that night. Everyone stole glances at Anya, who felt more than a bit uncomfortable with the whole situation. She excused herself early, having eaten her bowl. She was in the living room when Tante came to check on her. "You had a long day, how bout getting to bed?" Tante asked as she wiped her hands on her apron. Anya looked up and couldn't help but smile at the woman. "Ah think ah need a bath first. Ah smell worse than a hen house." Anya confessed as she stood. Tante nodded and began to lead her upstairs.
"Let Tante get de bath warm for you. Den you go head an get in an Tante bring you a towel." She smiled as she made it to the top of the stairs. Only a few more feet before she opened a door that led to a huge bathroom. Tante walked straight over to the claw foot tub and began to draw the bath water. Once it was full Tante held up a bottle of vanilla bubble bath. "Smells like flowers." Tante laughed as she dumped a bunch in. Anya just giggled as the tub was close to overflowing. Tante took a step back, admiring her work before turning to Anya.
"You go right 'head and jump in. I'll bring you a robe and towel. So get in. Tante be right back." Tante sadi as she turned to head towards the door. Anya waited until the woman left before she stripped from her clothes and gently lowered her sore body into the tub. She dunked her head under the water, getting her hair wet. She gathered it on top of her head, waiting for Tante to return so she could ask for shampoo and other necessities. It was only a few minutes of relaxing before Tante returned with a long silk robe and a fluffy towel. "Let Tante help you child." Tante put the towel and robe on the rack that stood in the corner of the room. She then turned to the tub, and from the small chest beside the tub, pulled out shampoo. She put a generous amount between her hands and immediately began to massage it into Anya's scalp.
Anya relaxed into Tante's hard massaging, enjoying the way her scalp felt cleaner with each flex of Tante's fingers. When she was done she pushed on Anya's shoulders. "Hold your breath, got to get it all out." Tante demanded. Anya obeyed, holding her head and ducking beneath the water. Tante resumed her work on Anya's head under the water, massaging the scalp and getting every last bit of soap out before Anya emerged. "Now get yourself clean, we'll be waiting down stairs. Got to have a small talk before you all get to bed." Anya nodded and remained in the tub for a little longer before getting a fresh bar of soap and scrubbing her sore muscles away.
As she stood and began to drain the tub, the door opened. "Sorry if I took too long Tante." Anya said, not having turned around. "Chere, you wound Remy." Startled, Anya quickly turned and stared wide eyed at him. He gave her that wolfish grin before grabbing the towel and gently drying her off. Once he was done he slipped the robe onto her slim form and tied it. He noticed the way her breath hitched when his bare fingers slipped onto her skin. He gave her a chaste kiss before speaking. "Chere, we be on our best behavior, non?" He pulled her in for a gentle hug, expressing so many emotions to her in that one move. "Now come down stairs. We need to have a chat wit' Tante."