13
After a knock on the door, Logan poked his head into the room. Cole grinned as he ate his green jello from his propped up position on the bed.
"Good t'see you again kiddo."
"He just got up a few minutes ago. Been a full day, but he's fine now."
"Just the tiny issue of his uncontrollable mutation." Logan stepped inside the room and leaned against the wall. Cole's eyes lit up as he swallowed "Mr. Logan, you know I can make things blow up!?"
Rogue pressed a finger to her lips. "Not everyone knows Coley. We still have t'keep it a secret."
Cole nodded and took another mouthful of jello.
"So what's up?" Rogue crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at him. "Y'look like a man on a mission."
His expression grew dark. "Can I talk to you... outside for a sec?"
She nodded without hesitation, patting Cole on the knee. "Ah'll be right back, okay baby?"
With a nod, he shoved another spoon full of jello into his mouth as she followed Logan out into the hallway.
"What is it?" She stared at him, closing the door behind her. He rubbed the back of his neck and frowned.
"It's about Gambit."
She blinked at him for a beat before tilting her head to the side. "You didn't kill him, did you?"
"No." Logan's frown deepened as he shook his head. "He's gone."
She exhaled hard and squared her jaw. "Ah knew he'd do this Logan..."
"I'm sorry kid."
"Don't be." She lifted her chin and shruged. "Cole an' ah got on just fine without him before. He made his choice."
Logan nodded silently.
"Could you... stay here with Cole for a bit?" She sucked in a deep breath. "Ah could use some fresh air."
"'Course. Take yer time."
Rogue spun around and hustled down the hall to the elevator, waiting impatiently as it brought her up to her floor. She hurried off to her room, slamming the door behind her before snatching a pillow off her bed and burying her face in it to let out a deafening scream. A slew of curse words followed until she finally dropped down on her bed in silence. Angry tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. She sqeezed her eyes shut tightly to keep them at bay. There was no way on earth she was going to shed one tear for that selfish ass. Not again.
---
"Well, I have some good news for you kiddo." Hank smiled at Cole, setting his clipboard down at the foot of his bed. "Your insides are a-okay. Just make sure you take it easy. We'll help you with those powers of yours."
Cole pressed his lips together and looked at Logan. "Can I go see my Mom now?"
The gruff mutant cracked a smile and nodded. "Get dressed. I'll take you to her."
Logan and Hank stepped out into the hallway, shutting the door behind them to give the boy some privacy.
"Where is Rogue?" Hank frowned. "She hasn't left her boys side since he arrived down here."
Logan's brow puckered and he shot out a breath. "She needed some air."
"Hmm... well let her know that I've suggested to Charles that they increase the number of their meetings. I'm afraid Cole needs to get this under control faster than we'd thought."
Logan crossed his arms "I don't understand. Gumbo dealt with the same thing, he's still breathin'. For now at least."
Hank smiled, removing his glasses to clean them off on his white coat. "Yes, but Cole is also an empath, and his abilities are triggered through emotion." he lowered his voice a knotch. "We're not only dealing with the emotions of a sensative child, we're dealing with the emotions of everyone around him that he loves."
"Rogue." Logan grunted.
Dr. McCoy nodded. "She has a bad day... he has a bad day."
"Don't we all." He grumbled under his breath.
Once Cole was all dressed and ready to go, Logan brought him upstairs to Rogue's room. She answered the door with a big grin, as if she was 100% and knelt down to his level.
"Hey! There's mah little man!" she held out her arms and scooped him up into a big hug. "Ah'm so happy you don't have to stay in that yucky room anymore."
"Me too!" he grinned before pushing back far enough to see her face. His smile quickly turned to a frown. "You're sad."
She worked the muscles in her jaw for a moment and cleared her throat before nodding. "You're right Cole. Ah'm sad. But it's okay to be sad sometimes."
"But why are you sad? I'm okay now, right?"
The smile returned to her face and she nodded. "That's right. An' ah'm happy about that." He pressed his lips together and nodded reluctantly.
"How about we go get some ice cream after dinner?"
Coles eyes lit up and his nod turned enthusiastic. "Can I get chocolate Momma?"
"You can have whatever kind you want hon!"
He grinned excitedly, the worry from moments ago all but forgotten. Obviously Rogue had become very good at distracting the little boy. But she couldn't fool him. He could see it in her eyes. And if he ever got a hold of that Cajun jackass, he'd take care of the situation himself.
--
Joseph held out his hand, a concerned look plastered on his handsome face.
"How are you?"
She smiled and took his hand. Even though he didn't understand why she gave a damn that Gambit up and left with no explination, and he certainly didn't give a damn himself, he still asked.
"Ah'm fine." she shrugged, feeling his doubtful eyes on her. She let out a sigh and shook her head. "Ah just... expected more of him ah guess. Thought maybe he'd grown up some."
Joseph nodded silently, turning his attention back to Cole who was eagerly munching on his cone with a ring of chocolate around his lips.
"How's that ice cream, sport?"
His eyes flicked over to Joseph and gave him a wide grin causing Rogue to laugh.
"At least you're enjoyin' it." She handed the young boy a napkin. "We better get goin' bud, it's gettin' pretty late."
Cole shoved the remainder of the cone in his mouth before using the napkin his Mom gave him to clean off his face. "Done!" He announced with a toothy grin.
On the way home, Cole balanced along the curb infront of Rogue and Joseph, happily expending some of the energy he'd acquired from the surgary snack.
"He seems to be feeling much better." Joseph glanced at Rogue with a grin, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.
"He won't be so happy when he finds out Gambit's gone." She said with a shrug. "That man has a way with kids."
"That's because he practically is one." Joseph chuckled. Rogue's lips formed a tight line and her brow wrinkled slightly. "Don't tell me you disagree! C'mon... he's all fun and games, no responsibilties. You know that."
She let out a light breath. "Ah know..."
"Not that there's anything wrong with it. It works for him. Just as long as nobody expects any different from him." Joseph shrugged. "You said yourself, you expected more from him."
Rogue's frown deepened.
"I don't like to see you upset like this Anna."
She shook her head. "Ah'm not upset. Let's just... change the subject."
Joseph smoothed his thumb along the back of her hand and nodded. "Sure."
With a deep breath, Rogue plastered a grin on her face and turned to face Joseph. "Ah really appreciate you takin' Cole an' ah out tonight."
"Not a problem." He winked.
"He really likes you." she looked forward, turning her attention back to her son as he hopped on and off the curb. "You're really good with him."
"He's a good kid, he makes it pretty easy." Jospeh dropped her hand and wrapped his arm around her shoulders pulling her closer to him. "You raised him well."
Rogue smiled as they rounded the corner to the institute, following Cole as he bolted down the driveway and raced up the steps.
"Momma," He hollered from over his shoulder. "Is it time for bed?"
"Just about!" She called back "Go an' get your PJ's on."
"You think Joe can read me some stories tonight?" he shouted excitedly.
Joseph grinned as they walked up the steps to meet Cole at the door. "Sure thing sport."
---
After a bath and changing into his PJ's, Cole climbed up into bed and snuggled down under the blankets with a content little grin. Joseph read him a story as promised, and now it was time for sleep. Rogue smoothed the hair off his forehead and gave him a gentle kiss.
"Did you have fun today?"
"Mmmhmm!" He nodded with a smile. "I liked Joe's book. He did the pirates voices an' everything! You should do that too Momma... it was funny."
Rogue chuckled and stroked his cheek as she leaned over to turn off the light next to his bed. "Ah'll remember that for next time."
"An' I was thinkin'... maybe Mr. Logan could read to me too. I bet he'd be a good reader."
"Maybe."
"An' Remy. He'd definately be good." He said with a nod, bunching the blankets up under his chin.
Rogue pressed her lips together and let out a breath, choosing not to respond to his last statment at all. He'd find out soon enough. "Goodnight hon."
"Night Mom."
She gave him another kiss on the forehead before ensuring his nightlight was lit, and leaving him to go to sleep.
She frowned as she closed the door behind her, slowly walking down the hall to her own room. The weight of the day finally settling around her, causing her to feel instantly tired. She pulled her bedroom door open and stepped into the darkness, closing the door sluggishly behind her.
Remy was gone. And now Cole wouldn't get the chance to know who his Father was. Sure, she lived in a mansion filled with good substitutes... but one day that wouldn't be good enough. One day, Cole was bound to ask her about him. And what could she say? Remy's leaving would break Cole's little heart, but he'd get over it eventually. That is, until he found out why Remy was so compelled to leave.
She flopped down on her bed hard and kicked her shoes off.
Apparently, nobody was important enough to Remy to make him stick around. Not even his own flesh and blood.
A/N- Ahhh not the greatest chapter ever, but I was really stuck on it. I figured it was good enough. Kind of short, but it works. :) Hope you all enjoy it still. Thanks for your reviews (They really do keep me going when I hit the wall.)