A/N - First off... I am SOOO SORRY it took me so long to update! I assure you all, I will not abandon this story. That sort of thing ain't my bag baby. My excuse is really good though... I swear. A mixture of insane writers block, busy running after my two year old son, and giving birth. Yes, that's right... on May 19th I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl!
So I apologize again for the delay in updates, and I also apologize that this chapter isn't very long... I just wanted to get as much done as I could and post. :)
Hope you enjoy... and continue reading... lol
14
Rogue stared at the wall with tired, glazed over eyes. With a slow blink, she looked at the glowing light of her alarm clock. Despite all her best efforts, she was still awake. And it was now 1:38 AM. Her mind was just too busy to allow her body any rest. She grumpily kicked off her blankets before rolling over to face the window. She watched the shilouette of the trees outside sway gently in the soft summer breeze and let out a sigh, rubbing a hand over her face.
She slowly began to feel the haze of sleep creep in around the edges of her vision as she stared out the window, letting the gentle movements of the trees outside lull her away from wakefulness. She closed her eyes in a long blink as her eyelids grew heavier, only to have something catch her eye and snap her completely out of her near sleeping state.
What looked like a slight whisp of fabric caught in the wind, right at the side of her patio window.
Fully awake now, she sat up and frowned, rubbing her eyes as she got up and moved over to the glass door to pull the blinds shut.
She stood frozen at the sight of the man on her balcony, his back to her as he leaned against the banister. If it had been anyone else, she would have screamed bloody murder before tossing him over the side.
Because it was him, she was just contemplating the tossing part.
She slid the door open and stepped outside, a chill running up her back the instant her bare foot hit the cool concrete.
"What are you doin'."
He glanced at her from over his shoulder before turning back. "Y' should lock that door. Pretty easy fo'predators t'get in."
She crossed her arms with an annoyed look as she waited expectantly for a real answer.
He looked back at her, turning around and leaning back on the banister with a non-chalante shrug. "Thinkin'."
Rogue squared her jaw and pursed her lips as she glared at him.
"Don't you give me dat look."
"You left. Again."
"Got a lot on my mind."
She huffed and rolled her eyes.
"Look, I'm sorry I left. I just needed some time t'process everything."
"You 'bout done?"
He cracked a tiny smirk at her snarky response and looked away. "Yeah." He rubbed the back of his neck and shook his head. "So much fo' a clean slate, hein?"
She snorted in agreement, turning her attention to the swaying trees.
"I watched d'three a you tonight."
Her eyes snapped back to him.
"One big happy family." He shrugged with a small smile.
"Remy-"
"I think Joseph is d'better option here too chere." He frowned. "I ain' d'best role model fo'anyone."
After a moment of silence Rogue let out a breath. "The better option for who, Remy. Cause the way ah see it... you're just takin' the easy way out."
"You think dis is easy?"
"Not havin' t'change? Not bein' responsible? Yeah! Ah do!"
She could see him work the muscles in his jaw before hanging his head slightly "I wasn't prepaired fo'dis Rogue. I'm not ready."
"Like ah had a choice?"
"It's different."
"No. It really isn't. Ah was nineteen Remy. Ah was alone... an' scared." She shook her head and looked away. "An' nobody asked me if ah thought ah'd be the best role model, or the best mother... or if ah was prepaired 'for this'."
Remy crossed his arms as he adjusted his position against the stone banister. "You didn't have t'be alone. Nobody made you leave Rogue."
Rogue turned around, sliding the glass door back open with a sigh. "Yeah well... nobody made you leave either, Remy."
She slipped back inside, closed the door behind her and locked it.
"Wow, you look like crap."
Rogue set the box of Fruit Loops down on the counter and glared at Kurt.
"I mean, you look tired. Not like, actual crap. You know vhat I mean."
She grumbled under her breath, snatching the carton of milk away from him with a scowl.
Kitty sidled up next to her and cleared her throat, watching as Rogue poured the milk over her cereal. "Everything alright?"
"Course. Why would you ask?"
She glanced around cautiously before continuing. "I haven't seen Remy..."
Rogue shrugged as she shovelled spoon into the bowl of sugary O's.
"Where's Cole?"
"Ah let him sleep in." She stuffed some cereal in her mouth signalling to Kitty that she was finished talking.
Before Kitty had a chance to keep badgering, Sarah breezed in through the doorway with a frown.
"You guys wouldn't happened to have seen Remy recently... would you?"
Kitty glanced at Rogue before giving Sarah a shrug "Nope."
"He stood me up last night." She crossed her arms, her frown deepening slightly.
"Yeah, he'll do that." Rogue muttered as she munched on her cereal, averting her eyes to the newspaper next to her bowl.
"I didn't even see him at all yesterday. It's like he's avoiding me or something."
"I'm sure it's not that." Kitty gave her a tentative sympathetic smile. "I hate to be the one to tell you this... but I think Remy may have pulled one of his infamous disappearing acts."
Sarah raised an eyebrow and shook her head "What do you mean by that?"
Kitty let out a breath and her shoulders slumped. "He's gone."
"No he's not." Bobby said through a mouthful of Corn Pops.
Everyone's eyes turned to him and Kitty put a hand on her hip. "And what makes you think that?"
Bobby continued chewing, looking at her like she'd just asked the stupidest question ever. "Uhh... because he's standing right there."
He pointed his spoon towards the doorway behind them and shook his head. "Open your eyes woman."
Sarah's face lit up with a smile and she rolled her eyes. "There you are!"
Rogue sat up a bit more and gave Remy a polite nod when their eyes briefly met. Sarah stepped over to him, giving him a playful punch to the shoulder with a pout.
"You stood me up!"
"Desloe chere... I had t'take care of some things. Rain check?"
The pout melted off her face, transforming into a smile as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Of course." she planted a peck on his lips and chuckled as she looked back at Kitty. "I knew he wouldn't just take off without saying goodbye."
Rogue snorted before realizing all three pairs of eyes had fallen on her.
"Something caught in my throat..." She forced a weak cough as she stood and dumped the remainder of her cereal into the sink.
Remy narrowed his eyes as he watched her move before clearing his throat "Y'look tired chere. Someone keep you up last night?"
She dropped the bowl into the sink with a loud clank and turned to give Remy a grin. "As a matter of fact yes. Although ah don't think mah dating life is any of your buisness."
Kitty's jaw dropped as she looked between the two of them. "Uhhh... So like, did you hear that Tom Cruise isn't crazy anymore? Go figure, right? I guess if you have enough money, you can pay the crazy away." She chuckled to Sarah who gave her a look of confusion. "You ask me, I say he's still nuts. Although his daugher's pretty cute. I don't like her name though... I think if I ever had a kid, I'd totally name her Beyonce."
Sarah shook her head. "What if it's a boy?"
"Usher." Kitty answered confidently. "But I totally plan on having a girl." she added with a shrug.
Rogue let out a breath as she cleaned up her mess in the sink, grateful for Kitty's sudden distraction. She reminded her of a rodeo clown, distracting the raging bull from the fallen rider.
Remy opened his mouth to comment, but before he had the chance he was almost knocked over by someone short wrapping their arms around his waist. He looked down to see Cole's big toothy grin.
"Hi! Where were you? I'm all better now!"
Remy ran his fingers through Cole's brown hair with a smile before lifting him up in his arms. "I'm very happy t'hear dat p'tite mec."
"Momma an' Joe are takin' me to see trains today!" He nodded towards Joseph who had followed him into the kitchen.
Remy looked up to Rogue who ignored him. "That's right." She smiled, looking to Kitty. "There's a little exhibition just outside of town. Joseph thought it'd be fun."
Cole's eyes lit up again as Remy put him down and he hopped in place. "Mamma, can Remy come too? Please?"
Rogue's eyes snapped over to Remy, her smile turned stale as she looked from him to Joseph. "Ummm..."
"It's fine with me." Joseph shrugged with a tight smile.
"Maybe some other time p'tite." Remy winked casually at Cole "You go have fun."
Rogue held out her hand and jerked her head towards the doorway. "C'mon Cole, let's go get ready."
"Okay." He took his Mom's hand and pulled her out of the kitchen as he asked Jospeh what kind of trains would be at the show.
"Awwwww." Sarah grinned, picking at a bowl of grapes that sat on the counter. "They're so cute! Like... a happy little family."
Remy stared at the empty doorway and let out a heavy breath before giving a small nod. "Yep." He pushed himself off the counter and mumbled something about forgetting to do something as he skulked out of the kitchen.
Sarah furrowed her brow "Wait... what?" She called out. She looked back at Bobby and Kitty.
"Sooo... Usher?" Bobby turned to Kitty, taking a bite of toast and scrunching up his nose. "Really?"
"I told you, I plan on having a girl..."