6
Kitty gave Rogue a smile as she walked into the kitchen. "I hope you don't mind… I gave him a grilled cheese sandwich." She pointed to Cole who sat at the kitchen table, taking a bite of the sandwich with a grin.
"Mmmphankou!" he said with his mouth full.
Rogue gave him a pointed look and he clamped his mouth shut. "No, that's no problem Kit. Thanks."
Kitty's smile widened. "No problem. Glad to help!"
It had been a week since Cole came into their lives, and everyone had been nothing but helpful. If you were to ask Rogue, she'd admit she was quite astonished. Bobby offering to baby sit, Logan playing games, Kitty making dinner… the thought of her friends accepting her despite her screw ups made her want to cry with joy.
She shouldn't have waited so long to come back.
Rogue moved over to the fridge, pulling out a green apple before moving over to the sink to wash it off.
"So… you an' Joseph." Kitty folded her hands on the table. "How's that goin'?"
Rogue shrugged. "It's goin'. Things don't just pick up where they left off."
"Yeah… but they could. He still loves you y'know."
"You don't know that." Rogue shook her head, pulling a knife out of the drawer and setting the apple down on the cutting board. "Don't say things like that Kit."
"It's true." Kitty lowered her voice slightly so the young boy couldn't hear. "It's true. The way he looks at you…" She sighed. "You two just… make sense."
"Need ah remind you that he ended it with me?"
"Why did he do that anyways?" Kitty leaned on the counter next to Rogue, watching the little boy munch on his grilled cheese. "Other then the excuse 'to find himself'' or… or whatever."
She silently sliced the apple, giving her head a shake. "I dunno Kit," she said eventually, keeping her focus trained on the apple "Cold feet maybe."
Kitty pressed her lips together, watching Cole eat. "What about Cole's Father?"
"What about him?" Rogue's head snapped up, looking at Kitty with a frown.
"Well… anything!" Kitty whispered. "Who is he, where is he, does he know… does he love you… do you love him… anything!"
Rogue squared her jaw. "Not tellin', doesn't matter, doesn't know." She looked at her friend as she scooped up some of the slices of apple off the counter with a small smile. "Good?"
"That was only three answers. I asked five." Kitty put a hand on her hip. "Did you…" She forced herself to lower her voice again. "Did you… love him?"
Rogue frowned in an effort to discourage Kitty from keeping the conversation going, walking over to Cole and plopping the sliced apple down on his plate before heading back to the cupboard and grabbing the peanut butter. "Eat 'em up Cole boy… you wanna grow up t'be big an' strong." She spooned out a glob of peanut butter and slopped it on the plate, giving him a wink.
"Like Mr. Logan?"
"Just like 'im." Rogue said with a chuckle before looking back up to Kitty and giving her head a shake. "That man's done quite a number on mah boy."
Kitty smiled, watching as Cole shoved the apple slices in his mouth. "C'n I go now Momma?"
Rogue nodded. "No runnin'. An' stay outta trouble. Why doncha go find Uncle Kurt?"
"The blue fuzzy guy?" Cole's eyes widened.
"Yup. He should be in the rec. room. If y'get lost, ask someone. Don't have t'worry about strangers around here." She gave him a wink.
His green eyes glimmered with excitement. "Kay!" He scurried from his seat and out of the kitchen as Rogue gathered his dishes and brought them over to the sink.
"You're such a good mom Rogue. I wish I could have seen it from the start." Kitty leaned on the counter, crossing her arms. "And I don't say that to make you feel guilty."
Rogue's smile wavered slightly "Ah know. Wish ah could've been here too."
Kitty bit her lip, hesitating before she sucked in a breath "Rogue… why did you leave? If you'd have just stayed… not that Cole's not a good thing… but think of all the heart ache you could have saved yourself and-"
"Kitty." Rogue put the plate down letting out a deep breath. "Don't."
"Even if you'd called… and said you were okay. It wouldn't be like you… like…" Kitty let out a small breath. At risk of sounding mean, she had to say it "Like… you ran off and got pregnant."
Cole's hysterical giggles echoed through the hall before rounding the corner of the kitchen, distracting the girls from their conversation. Rogue had turned her back to the door once again, going back to the dishes.
"Ma chère… y'lose somethin'?" He was holding Cole under his right arm like he was a football. The little boy laughed uncontrollably.
Remy put the boys feet back on the ground with a chuckle.
Rogue shook her head. "No, he was lookin' for Kurt."
"Oui… but he ran into me. D'boy can sure hold a conversation, non?"
Rogue nodded.
"Y'know what Momma?!" Cole tugged Rogue's pant leg impatiently. "I was tellin' Mr. Gambit that I like the Mutant Ninja Turtles, an' he says he does too!"
Rogue gave Cole a small smile. "That's pretty special Cole."
"An' I bet Mr. Gambit likes apples an' peanut butter too."
Rogue laughed and ran a hand through Cole's auburn hair. "Ah have a feelin' you an' Remy will get along just fine when it comes t'food. The spicier the better, right Cole?"
He pressed his lips together and nodded with an enthusiastic grin.
"Sounds like y'my kinda man, p'tiete." Gambit winked. "Now y'wan' Remy t'take y'to see Kurt?"
"Kay!" Cole scurried towards the doorway. "But you can take your time… cause Momma says not to run inside."
"Yo'Momma ain' d'boss o'Remy…" He gave Rogue a wink. "Unless she wants t'be…"
"Get goin' boys… unless y'all wanna listen to our girl talk…"
Both boys scrunched up their noses, exchanging a similar, comical look before shaking their heads. Remy scooped the small boy up, flipping him onto his shoulders.
"Dat's our cue to exit p'tite mec." He grinned. "Au revior!"
---
Logan made his way down to the rec. room, stopping in the doorway.
"Hi Mr. Logan." Cole gave the gruff man a wave. "Wanna play?" He held up a handful of cards.
"No thanks kid." Logan grinned before turning his attention to Gambit. "Y'really think it's a good idea to be teachin' him to gamble?"
"'S go fish mon ami. No gamble involved." Remy grinned, slapping down a pair of sevens. "Take dat p'tite mec."
"Got any nines?" Cole asked with a grin.
Remy rolled his eyes, handing over the nine of hearts. "You cheatin'?!"
Logan grumbled under his breath as Sarah came up to a stop next to him. "Isn't he cute?"
"Don't look at Gumbo that way kid." Logan smirked.
She swatted his arm. "I was talking about the kid. He's quite the little charmer too. Held the door open for me an' everything."
Logan pressed his lips together. "Yeah. Quite the kid. He's got quite the mom."
"I wonder who his Father is." Sarah crossed her arms, watching Joseph walk into the rec. room, mussing up the little boy's hair.
Cole showed him his cards with a giggle and informed him that he was winning.
"He's good." Remy agreed.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean for that to sound... cruel." Sarah glanced at Logan, noticing his slight change in demeanor at her comment. "Poor Rogue. Run away and get pregnant? That must have been so hard on her…"
"Yeah." Logan grunted. Sarah was about to say something else, but he didn't stick around to hear it. Talking to that girl for too long gave him a headache.
---
Later that evening Rogue sat alone in the library, enjoying the silence; enjoying the fact that there was someone for Cole to play with at all times. She closed her eyes and tilted her chair back slightly, sucking in a deep breath through her nose.
"So this is what the library's here for."
His voice almost caused her to lose her balance, but she caught herself in time, sitting up to look at him with an embarrassed grin.
"Hey Joe."
"So… I was thinking."
"Don't hurt y'self Sugah."
He smiled. "About that dinner you owe me."
"…oh. Ah… forgot."
He chuckled. "Well. If you're not doing anything now… and clearly you're not."
She smiled and he took her hand, causing a blush to break out over her pale cheeks.
"I was thinking, maybe we could go somewhere."
She gently tugged her hand back. "Joe…"
"Anna. I know it's been a while. And obviously… you moved on after me." He gave her a brilliant smile and winked. "But this wouldn't be a date."
"No?" She raised an eyebrow with an amused grin.
"No. It'd be two old friends, grabbing a bite to eat. And if you want to kiss me at the end of the night… that's fine."
She laughed before shaking her head "Ah don't know."
"Six years is a long time Anna." Joseph lowered his voice slightly. "I've missed you."
She smiled slightly. "Me too. But Cole… ah have to find someone to watch him."
"I'm sure it won't be too difficult." He sat upright with a grin. "You've got a very lovable little boy there."
Rogue chuckled. "You're tellin' me." She stood up and headed over to the door. "Ah'll… ah'll see what ah can do. Alright?"
---
"Oh Rogue." Jean put a hand to her chest with a smile "I'd love to watch Cole… but I can't tonight. Too many last minute things before the big day..."
Rogue pressed her lips together with a smile "It's alright. Don't sweat it. It was a long shot anyways…"
Of course Jean wouldn't be able to. She was getting married in two days. Rogue mentally kicked herself for even asking the telepathic red head.
"Did you ask Kitty already?"
"Yeah… she's got a date with Pete." Rogue shrugged. "It's alright. Joseph's waited for six years, ah think he can wait a few more days."
Jeans eyes glimmered at the mention of Josephs name "Joseph?"
Rogue nodded. "An ah mean... he was the one that dumped me. So it wouldn't hurt him t'suffer a bit." she added with a wry grin.
"What about Bobby?"
"You kiddin'?" Rogue snorted. "It's Thursday night. The boy's on the prowl."
Jean furrowed her brow, noticing the disappointed look on Rogue's face.
"Don't do that red." Rogue gave her a pointed look. "Get outta mah head…"
Jean smiled "Not in your head. I swear." She held up her hands. "I was just thinking… what about Remy?"
Rogue looked over her shoulder at the Cajun, sitting on the couch with Sarah under his one arm, the remote in his free hand.
"Remy? No… he wouldn't want to… ah wouldn't want him t'feel like-"
"You wouldn't be making him." Jean shook her head. "You two were good friends once. Remember? And if he doesn't want to, he'll say no."
Rogue let out a breath. "Ah… guess." She set her jaw, making her way over to the two on the couch before letting out a deep breath.
Remy looked at her from over his shoulder, his arm falling off Sarah's shoulders. "Chère?"
"Hey Swamp Rat." She puckered her brow and crossed her arms tightly. "Look… ah'm gunna ask you somethin'… but you don't have to... don't feel like y'have to."
He smirked "Spit it out fleur."
"Ah… was wonderin' if you'd be willin' t'watch Cole tonight. Just a few hours… nothin'-"
"Sure."
"You don't have to if y'don't-"
"Chère. Remy said oui."
"He ain't a handful or anything…"
Remy laughed. "Ah'm sure I can manage. How much worse den you could he be?"
She put a hand on her hip and rolled her eyes. "Right. Well… if you can do this for me… ah'd really appreciate it."
"Y'got a hot date fleur?" Remy looked past her at Joseph who waited in the doorway.
She pursed her lips and raised an eyebrow. "Yeah."
He wiggled his eyebrows at her mischievously. "Don' stay out too late…" he winked.
"Right. Anyways. Thanks." She patted his arm, giving Sarah a smile. "You three'll have fun."
After ten minuets she was changed and ready to go.
She made her way downstairs, running her hands along the pencil skirt she wore, smoothing out any imperfections before giving the fitted purple top a light tug. She was ready to go.
She rounded the corner to the rec. room, her heart jumping into her throat at the sight before her.
Remy had his arm stretched out along the back of the couch. Cole sat next to him with an excited grin on his face, listening to Joseph, who sat on his other side, telling him a story. Cole's high pitched giggle pealed through the air; apparently it was a funny story.
She leaned on the door jamb with her arms crossed as a smile danced across her lips. Now that was an ironic sight. Joe and Remy were not the best of friends… to put it lightly. And now here they were… having a civilized conversation with her son. A lump suddenly formed in her throat again, her heart rate increasing as she realized the magnitude of this moment.
Cole was sitting with his father.
She had to push the thought from her mind forcefully as soon as it entered if she wanted to avoid hyperventilating.
"Momma!" Cole jumped up on the couch, turning around to face Rogue in the doorway.
"Alright Cole. Ah want you to promise me you'll be a good boy."
"Promise Momma." He nodded, watching as she walked closer, stopping behind the couch with her arms crossed.
"An' you listen to Remy. Alright? Just 'cause I'm around don't mean ah won't find out." She gave him a pointed look.
"I know Ma." He giggled.
Joseph stood up. "You look great."
Rogue shrugged. "Thanks." She bent over and gave Cole a kiss on the forehead.
"Remy get one?" He gave her a smile, tilting his cheek towards her.
"Ah'll give y'one alright…" She gave him a swat on the arm. "With mah fist."
"You kids have fun." He called after them with a wave. Joseph's arm circled around her waist as he waved over his shoulder.
"Yeah! Fun!" Cole waved quickly before, flopping down on Remy's lap with a laugh.
---
The waitress led Rogue and Joseph to their booth with a pleasant little bounce in her step. She left their menus after introducing herself as Lara, spinning around on her heel and skipping off to her next customer. Rogue couldn't help but think she was far too happy to be at work.
"I'm very glad you agreed to come out with me Anna." Joseph grinned easily after the almost-too-happy waitress left.
Rogue smiled "It ain't like y'had t'twist mah arm or anything Joe." she folded her bare hands on the table as she spoke. "Besides, ah thought it'd be fun t'catch up."
"First things first, Anna." Joseph puckered his silver eyebrows, his eyes focused on the center of the table suddenly. "I owe you an apology."
Rogue stiffened "An apology?"
He nodded somberly, his chocolate brown eyes lifting to meet her stare. "Yes. I never should have left. Not like that."
"Joseph," Rogue started, shaking her head slowly. "You don't have to-"
"No, I do." His face twisted up slightly and he looked away, obviously embarrassed by the way things had ended. He let out a short breath and looked at her again. "It was stupid."
"We all do stupid things Joseph." She said softly.
"You know I loved you, right?" He frowned.
Rogue nodded gently with a smile "Ah know y'did. An' ah don't blame you for one second for leavin'. Ah never did." she offered him a small shrug "It was bad timin'. That's all."
He pursed his lips in a thin smile "How's the timing now?"
"Hmmm..." She tapped her closed mouth with a grin "Ah'd say we got plenty a'time t'find out. What d'you say?"
He leaned back in his seat with a nod, his smile growing, showing off his perfect white teeth. "Absolutely."
Rogue chuckled to herself just as Lara returned to take their orders. Joseph kept his eyes on her while she ordered, and his eyes remained there for practically the entire meal. They talked for hours, catching one another up on the past six years of their lives. Joseph informed Rogue that when he left he landed a job working with the government regarding mutant relations out in Washington. He'd stayed there for a few years, never really satisfied with his position, before returning to the X-men, stating that he felt like he was more help working abroad.
Rogue filled him in on her five years with Cole, leaving out almost everything that happened before he'd arrived. She told him she'd moved down to a small town in Mississippi with thirty seven dollars to her name and hoped for the best, and then skipped ahead to her life with her vivacious little son; Her job at the small towns only book store; Her cozy little two bedroom apartment she'd lived in since Cole was born. She was grateful that he didn't ask to know anything prior to that. She wasn't ready to fill him in quite that much yet.
When their meal was all finished, Joseph allowed Rogue to lead the way out of the restaurant, taking her hand to stop her as she headed for the parking lot.
She knit her brow "What is it?"
"It's such a nice night, and it's not far to the mansion," He smiled "I thought we could walk."
Rogue smirked "What about your car?"
He tugged her along with him gently and shook his head "I can pick it up later."
She complied, letting him lead her to the sidewalk. He had been right, it was a beautiful night. The humidity from the day had pretty much disappeared once the sun had set, leaving the air pleasantly warm. It was a far cry from the sweltering heat she was used to on Mississippi summer nights.
"Ah'm really glad you asked me out t'night Joe." She squeezed his hand gently with a small smile. "It was fun catchin' up."
"Even though it's not a date right?" He grinned playfully through his furrowed brow causing Rogue to laugh.
"Exactly."
They walked in comfortable silence for a minute before Joseph let out a breath. "Can I ask you something?"
She winced. Here it comes..."Sure Sugah." She said, hiding the reluctance in her tone as best she could.
"How long after I left did Gambit leave?"
Rogue furrowed her brow and looked at him. She would have thought someone would have told him since he'd been back. But maybe that sort of information hadn't been important to him since she'd been gone anyways. And now that she was back... She let out a breath. "Few months."
He pursed his lips, keeping his eyes trained in front of him as he nodded.
"Why?"
"I just keep thinking..." He glanced at her quickly. "If I'd have stayed just a little while longer..." He trailed off, letting her finish his thought in her mind.
"Oh."
"I shouldn't have brought it up." He frowned. "But I do feel pretty bad that you were alone."
"Ah wasn't alone Joe. Ah lived in a mansion full of concerned by-standers." She uttered a wry laugh and shook her head. "Y'shouldn't be concerned with it anyways. It's in the past. Unimportant." Her eyes fell to her feet. "Besides, you didn't leave me alone..." she muttered, instantly regretting the words as soon as they fell out of her mouth.
"I know I'm probably not the best person in the world to speak on the subject," Joseph started. "but I'm sure that if Remy left, he had good reason to. He sure as hell had a hard time leaving you alone when I was around."
At that, Rogue laughed. "Ah guess."
His hand tightened around her fingers and she looked over at him, enjoying the easy smile that filled his face. It was as if no time at all had passed between them. He lifted her hand to his mouth, brushing her knuckles along his lips gently, his smile growing. "Your hands are cold."
"Guess they never adjusted t'bein bare all the time."
"Clearly a down side to gaining control." He teased.
They strolled through the mansion gates, up the stone steps, coming to a stop at the door.
"I'm going to head back to pick up my car." Joseph smiled as she turned to face him, her hand still in his.
"Oh! Alright." She nodded, a grin spreading across her lips. "Ah really did have a good time."
"I'm glad you did."
Her eyes sparkled as her grin widened "Even though it wasn't a date."
Joseph chuckled. "Not at all."
She took a step towards him, looking up into his deep brown eyes as she inhaled. "So, it would be pretty inappropriate t'kiss you then. Right?"
He lifted his free hand to her face, tracing her jawline with his fingertips starting at her chin and gliding them back towards her ear. "I'm sure we can make an exception."
Rogue moved closer, meeting Josephs lips in a soft, gentle kiss. His hand slipped to the nape of her neck, tangling in her auburn hair.
Rogue pulled back slightly, just enough to look him in the eye again. She smiled "That was some 'welcome home' gift, Joseph."
He grinned and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "Goodnight Anna."
She watched him turn around and head down the steps "You got mah number right?"
He threw her a smile over his shoulder and chuckled. "I know where to find you."
A/N: Petite mec is french for "little monkey". Just an fyi.
This was a long one!! Yeesh! You guys better be grateful. :) And for all you Romy pushers out there, be kind. LOL! C'mon, Joe's a nice guy... right Val? (I am of course speaking to Val Kilmer. Apparently he reviews on a regular basis. I had no idea he'd be interested in X-men fan fiction. Go figgah.)
Feel free to leave a nice review for me! It'll make this hormonal crazy pregnant lady really happy. And also pop in to my profile to answer the poll "Who do you think is Rogue's baby daddy?"
And for those of you wondering, Peter Petrelli is my baby daddy. (No, not Michael Keaton.)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ (That's glitter confetti.)