20

He ran as fast as he could, stopping for no one, ignoring their hollers as he sped past them through the hallway. He burst out the front doors and jumped down the stairs, continuing full tilt down the long driveway. He knew that logically speaking, there were quite a few options open to them in terms of finding Cole. Jean could do a mental scan or what-have-you... Logan could catch a scent and sniff him out like a hound dog. But he decided it was best to leave the logical thinking to Joseph. Remy's heart was pounding too fast for him to focus on anything resembling logic right now. The fact that he was running down the middle of the street with adrenalin powered determination was proof enough of that.

He'd heard the stories about parents being able to lift cars off of their children's bodies when the surge of adrenalin hit, he'd just put it down to the simple fact that you'd do the same for anybody. Offspring or not.

But he now realized that until you have kids of your own, you have no idea the kind of measures a human would take to protect them. He ignored the panic that was slowly bubbling into the edges of his mind and pressed forward.

He ran past Harry's and down main street, praying that the adrenalin coursing through his veins was taking his legs in the right direction. As soon as Joseph asked "Where would he go?" Remy knew.

Of course he knew Rogue would have thought about the same place eventually, but Remy had experience with running away. He continued running, the residential buildings that had been lining the streets were beginning to taper off into large fields of grass. Remy hung a left, taking the tall grass as fast as he could as he spied his final destination.

The little exhibition that Rogue and Joseph had taken him to had since packed up and left, leaving the old stretch of track bare with the exception of one lonely old boxcar.

His pace picked up until he reached the boxcar, slowing down only when he was close enough to see inside the side door.

And there he was. Sitting cross-legged in the corner, drawing shapes in the dirt on the floor in front of him with his chin propped up on his fist.

Remy let out a long, relieved breath before hopping up into the box car and squatting down in front of the little boy.

"Bonjour, p'tite mec."

Cole sniffled and looked up at Remy. His bright, teary green eyes were almost enough to break his heart in two. He opened his arms, letting Cole scoot in for a hug.

"You okay?" Remy asked as he stroked Cole's mess of brown hair.

He nodded silently.

"Y'put quite a scare into us y'know."

"I know." He said softly, his voice muffled against Remy's chest.

"'Course y'do." Remy smiled, holding Cole tightly as he waited for his heart rate to settle. "Y'wanna talk about it?"

Cole moved back to his spot and nodded, waiting for Remy to take a seat next to him before beginning.

"Everybody's always so mad. Momma told me not to worry about it... but I can't help it. An' then we were playin' basketball outside? An' Uncle Kurt an' Bobby got into a big fight." He sniffled and wiped his nose with the back of his hand. "The basketball e'sploded."

Remy watched as a few tears rolled down Cole's doll-like cheek. If his heart wasn't broken before, it sure as hell was broken now. Remy reached out and pulled Cole back in gently as the ache in his chest grew. He knew all too well what it felt like to lose control of his power. It was something he wouldn't wish upon anyone, but it was just his cross to bare in life. And the fact that this precious little boy- his precious little boy- had to bare that cross as well was enough to make him want to cry.

"It's okay Cole." He said softly as Cole wiped his tears away.

"No it's not. Momma's gunna be mad. She wanted me to keep it a secret." He sniffled. "Just, everyone's so mad... I just couldn't help it."

Remy looked down at Cole and knit his brow. "Nobody's mad at you Cole. Especially not your momma."

Cole put his head down on Remy's chest, his lower lip trembling slightly with the effort it took to keep from crying.

"She's mad at you."

"I know she is p'tite." Remy sighed. "Listen. Y'can't just run away when things go wrong. It must be hard... knowin' what everyone else is feelin'. But y'gotta understand dat you can't control d'way people feel. Sometimes, y'just gotta deal
with it."

"I just want everyone happy."

"I know y'do p'tite."

"How come Joe's mad at you?"

Remy worked the muscles in his jaw and pursed his lips. "Well... I said some pretty mean things to him."

"Why?"

"I was jealous of him."

"What's that mean?"

Remy smiled down at Cole and let out a breath. "It means he had somethin' I wanted. An' dat made me..." He hesitated, feeling slightly uncomfortable explaining his emotions out loud, even if it were to a child. "Sad."

"Momma says, you should use your word when you feel sad."

Remy chuckled and nodded. "Sometimes dats easier said den done."

After a moment, Cole tipped his chin up to look at Remy with a frown. "What's 'in my jeans' mean?"

"Come again?"

"You were talkin' to momma last night, an' you said it was 'in my jeans'. Does that mean like... in my pockets?"

Remy smirked and shook his head. "Not those kinds of jeans. Genes like... genetics. Things you get from yo'family. Dem beautiful big green eyes, dat little dimple in your chin... all dem good looks a yours, you got from your momma." He
winked. "It's in your genes."

Cole pulled back, resting the back of his head against Remy's shoulder. "Are powers in genes too?"

Remy sucked in a breath and looked away with a nod. "Sometimes, yeah."

"So..." Cole's face twisted and Remy could almost see the gears in his head turning. "How come you have the same powers as me? Are you in my genes?"

Remy let out a deep breath and nodded, feeling his heart rate pick up as the prospect of a terrible reaction loomed in the near future. "Oui. I am."

Cole watched him expectantly until Remy offered him a small smile. "I'm your dad."

His big green eyes grew wide and he gasped. "Does momma know?"

Remy's smile grew and he chuckled. "Yeah, she does."

Cole looked away and hummed to himself with his little brow furrowed. "That's good." He looked back at Remy and nodded. "I always wanted a daddy."

"I'm sorry I wasn' around before p'tite mec." Remy tapped Cole's chin playfully with a wink. "Promise it won't happen again."

Cole's eyebrows perked up and he smiled. "Are you comin' with us to Muir Island?"

"No..." Remy's heart ached again but he smiled through it and shook his head. "But we can visit. An' if you ever need me, I'm just a phone call away."

Cole nodded happily, and Remy was convinced he was satisfied with his answer. He sat back against Remy's shoulder and let out a breath.

"Daddy?"

Remy grinned joyfully at the sound of Cole addressing him like that so casually.

"Oui p'tite?"

"I love you, you know."

"Me too Cole. More den you'll ever know."

Cole giggled. "That's what momma always says."

"Speakin' of momma." Remy stood with a smile and scooped Cole up in his arms. "We should let her know you're alright. She's pretty worried."

Cole wrapped his arms around Remy's neck and nodded. "Kay."

XXXX

Rogue stepped into the rec room with the wireless phone still in her hand, hanging at her side. "Cole's fine. Remy found him, unharmed." She said, addressing everyone in the room who had been anxiously waiting along with her. "They're in
the cab, on their way back."

Everybody visibly relaxed and Jean shook her head. "Thank God! Does Remy know what happened?"

Rogue pursed her lips and let out a breath. "Yeah."

"I don't know man... it was the weirdest thing. Kurt was traveling with the ball, so I called him on it-"

"I vas not traveling." Kurt frowned. "You vere cheating."

"Dude! You practically walked across the entire court with the ball under your arm. That's not how we play basketball here in America, that's called football."

"You are so full of it! I honestly vonder if you lie so often, zhat you actually begin to believe it's true."

"Guys!" Jean held up a hand. "Kurt was traveling and Bobby was cheating. Then what happened?"

"Well, we got in a fight. Obviously. Next thing I know there's a loud bang and our ball's in a million pieces on the grass. I turned to Cole to ask him what the heck happened, and he was gone!"

The group looked at Rogue as she set the phone down in it's cradle before turning to face them. "Cole is... an empath." She paused as she received their looks of confusion.

"He's more sensitive to the emotions of people he's close to." She continued, speaking up over the low murmur that had broken out over her unknowing teammates. "And it was never really an issue before, because... ah was the only
person he was close to."

All eyes were silently on her now and Logan gave her a nod of encouragement.

"This is all part of the reason why ah've decided to go to Muir Island with Joseph. The less people around, the less chance of a negative reaction."

"Yer still plannin' on goin'?" He frowned.

"You can't shelter him forever, Rogue. You totally know that if you-"

Jean waved a hand at Kitty to shut her up before turning to Rogue with a frown. "Negative reaction?"

"Yeah... um..." She sucked her lower lip into her mouth and nodded. "That's his other power."

Storm shook her head, and looked at a bemused Logan. "How is that possible? He is only five years old."

"Well, he gets that from his father. And because he's only five, he doesn't know how to deal with everyone else's emotions. Ah've done a pretty good job of stayin'... stoic, but... when he gets upset, it triggers his other power which causes
him to... potentially blow things up." She looked at Joseph who gave her a comforting smile. "Which incidentally, he also gets from his father."

The group still stared at her expectantly. Kitty glanced around before discreetly motioning for Rogue to elaborate a bit more.

"...Who will be back here at the mansion with Cole any minute."

"Remy." Storm pursed her lips and shook her head. "Why didn't you tell us sooner Rogue?"

"No offense 'Ro, but ah didn't think it was anyone's business."

"Wait, what?" Jubilee blinked, looking over to Jean who's eyes were now wide, and Scott, who sighed and shook his head.

"Seriously? Gambit's your baby daddy?" Jamie asked before receiving a swat from Logan. "What? I was just gunna say that it explains why Joe and him were at it the other day."

"That's true!" Jubilee gawped as realization set in.

"How the hell did that happen?" Bobby crossed his arms. "Lucky bastard... he seriously gets any woman he looks at. I'm telling you Summers, watch your back."

Rogue held up her hands to silence the budding squabble and rolled her eyes. "Look, ah was young, an' it was really stupid.

"But I thought you two were such good friends." Jean shook her head. "I never thought he'd take advantage of that."

"Really? Never?" Scott smirked. "This is Gambit we're talking about. He'd put the moves on Bobby as long as he was wearing a tight skirt."

Bobby grimaced. "Dude!"

"When did all this even happen?" Jubilee interjected, eying Kitty as she held Pete's hand uncharacteristically silent. Kitty gave Jubilee an innocent shrug and forced look of surprise.

"I too am shocked, and appalled, at this brand new information!" She uttered, somewhat robotically, causing Pete to stifle a laugh. "Whatever, I'm totally a good actress."

"It happened right after Joe took off." Rogue answered matter-of-factly.

"Typical... make his move right when a girl's feeling all vulnerable." Bobby nodded. "Damn he's good."

"Bobby..." Jean frowned, silently shaking her head at him.

"What? I'm just sayin' the guys got mad skills. We didn't even know Rogue could touch anyone, and there he is, knockin' her up."

"Bobby!" Jean repeated, staring at him.

"I'm sorry... impregnating her up."

Rogue crossed her arms and gave him a nod. "Thanks Drake."

"So what are you gunna do?" Jubilee frowned. "Are you still leaving?"

"Doesn't Gambit like, get a say?" Kitty asked innocently.

"I think he gave his opinion half a decade ago when he took off and got married." Scott offered Rogue a shrug and adjusted the glasses on his nose.

"He left you, and got married?" Sarah spoke for the first time, the genuine shock in her voice was unmistakeable.

Rogue sucked in a breath and nodded. "Sort of."

Sarah frowned and shook her head. "I didn't... realize..." She bit her lip and looked down. "I'm sorry."

Rogue stared at her for a moment before giving her a nod. "It's okay."

Sarah cleared her throat and stood. "Well, I think all that's important now is Rogue's final decision. Which is totally up to her and should have no outside influence what-so-ever." She emphasized her point with a firm nod causing Rogue to crack a grin and nod back.

"Thank you Sarah."

Kitty scrunched up her nose as she looked between the two women before settling on Rogue, eying her carefully. "Whatever. No offense or anything Joe, but there is like, no way you can leave, Rogue."

"An' why is that?" Rogue asked with a patronizing smile.

"Well first of all... reasons that I am sure you would not like me speaking about in front of everybody? You know... the whole Edward and Bella syndrome?"

Rogue closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Kitty-"

"Secondly, being stoic is cool and all, but it's totally not you. You're a spirited, moody, passionate... y'know... girl or whatever! You're not stoic. You can't pull off stoic."

She put a hand on her hip and raised an eyebrow. "Moody?"

"Look, I think we can all agree that people change." Joseph offered as he moved to stand next to Rogue. "Time changes people, life changes people, and kids can certainly illicit a change, so it's unreasonable to expect Anna to still be the same brooding, moody girl she was six or seven years ago."

"He does have a point." Jean nodded thoughtfully.

"Yeah, but it's who she is. She may not be all brooding... emo... weird and shit, anymore," Bobby gestured towards Rogue as he spoke. "But it's totally uncharacteristic for her to not be spunky. Even when she's moody, she's still got that... spark."

"Why do y'all keep sayin' moody? Ah am not moody."

Joseph rubbed her back with a smile, silently choosing not to address her comment.

"Ah'm not! Bein' pissed off when people are stupid is not moody. You guys just do stupid things that piss me off, that ain't mah fault. An' ah'll tell ya this much, that hasn't changed."

Logan suppressed a smile as he nodded, gaining him a dangerous glare.

"Shut up." She looked back to the group with a frown. "Besides, Joseph is right. Ah have changed. Ah've grown up. An' maybe... ah just don't belong here anymore."

"Well what about Cole? Doesn't he have a say?" Kitty crossed her arms and knit her brow expectantly.

"Yes. Cole has a say. But ah find that leavin' big life decisions up to a five year old generally isn't a wise idea." She let her stance relax as she crossed her arms with a sarcastic smile. "For example, when we came here, we'd have moved into
a gingerbread house and ah'd be an ice cream farmer. And we'd have flown here on the back of the dragon, from Shrek. So basically, ah handle the big ticket decisions."

Kitty frowned, "Yeah, but-"

Everything was put on the back burner when the beautiful sound of her son's excited voice wafted down the hall before he scurried around the corner into the rec room.

"Cole..." She knelt down and squeezed him tightly, peppering his little face with kisses. "Don't you ever do that again! Ah was so worried honey..."

"I'm sorry momma." He grimaced under her kisses and frowned. "Are you mad?"

Rogue laughed and hugged him tighter. "Of course not silly. Ah'm relieved t'see you're alright!" She suddenly jerked him back at arms length and did a visual sweep of him, grabbing his hands and inspecting the quickly. "You are alright... right?"

Cole giggled and nodded as Remy strode through the doorway.

"Soon as we got through d'front door he took off t'find you." He smirked at Rogue and shrugged. "Couldn' keep up with him."

She stood, keeping her hand on Cole's shoulder, and tucked a strand of white hair behind her ear. "Thank you Remy." She furrowed her brow and shook her head. "Ah don't know what ah would've... if somethin' happened to him ah..." She looked down at Cole and trailed off.

"Don' worry 'bout it chere." He gave Cole a wink and mussed up his hair. "Just doin' my job."

Cole looked up at Rogue and smiled. "When we move, I can take my trains right? I don't have ta leave anything here, do I?"

"Yes baby, you can take your trains." Rogue chuckled, glancing at Remy with an uneasy grin. "Why don't we go finish packin' up your room so we don't forget anything?"

Cole nodded and took Rogue's hand as she led him out of the room, followed quickly by Joseph who jumped at the excuse to leave.

Remy looked up at the group who was now staring at him expectantly.

He furrowed his brow. "What?"

Kitty's lower lip stuck out dramatically and Jean stood up. "Um... It's nothing. Just... Rogue told us about you. And her."

"Oh." He pressed his lips together, letting his frown deepen with the action. "So is dis d'part where you all lecture me on bein' irresponsible?"

"What's the point in lecturing, you already know you are." Scott shrugged.

Jean narrowed her eyes and dipped her head slightly. "Are you okay?"

He gave her a nonchalant shrug and smiled. "'Course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"

Jean knit her brow. "It's just that, I can-"

"I'm fine." He squared his jaw and shoved his hands in his pockets, turning his gaze to Kitty with a sudden frown. "Stay out of it." He turned around and left quickly.

"Yeesh." Kitty shook her head with a chuckle. "And we thought Rogue was moody!"

Jubilee craned her neck to look at Kitty with her eyes narrowed. "So... what the hell is an Edward and Bella syndrome?"

Kitty pressed her lips together and shook her head. "I have no idea what you are talking about." She looked up at Pete with a smug smile and nodded. "See? I'm totally a good actress."

XXXX

Remy breezed down the hall with his hands still firmly in his pockets and his head down. He stopped outside of Cole's open door and peered in carefully, making sure he remained unseen. Cole cheerfully wrapped each wooden train in tissue paper individually before gently placing it in the large cardboard box. Rogue was nowhere in sight. He sneaked by the little boy's door continuing a few doors down to Rogue's and frowned at the closed entrance. This either meant she wasn't in
there at all, or she was in there, and she wasn't alone. He grimaced at the prospect of later regretting what he was about to do, leaning towards the door and pressing his ear carefully against the cool wood. He couldn't hear any voices, just a slight rustling sound. She was probably just packing up on her own. He was about to pull away and consider knocking on the door, when it suddenly pulled away from his ear. Rogue gasped, almost walking right into him.

"Remy, what the hell!"

He pulled back and offered her a guilty smile. "Sorry. I was..." He jerked his thumb towards the end of the hall and pursed his lips with a shrug.

"Listening at my door? What, are ya Nancy Drew now? Next thing ah know you'll be peekin' in through the key hole." She said with a smirk as she crossed her arms.

"Why would y' say Nancy Drew? You could've easily said d'Hardy Boys or somethin'."

"Please. You wish you were the Hardy Boys."

He smiled and looked down at his feet, unable to shake Cole's sage words of advice; You should use your words when you're sad. He sucked in a breath and looked back up at her with a shrug. "I wanted t'talk. If y'have a minute."

"Sure." She furrowed her brow and stepped aside, letting Remy move past her before closing the door and rubbing her bare arms.

Use your words. He worked the muscles in his jaw and rubbed the back of his neck, looking at the boxes she had stacked up on her bed. "How's the packing goin'?"

"Good." She said with a nod. "Look Rem," She squared her jaw when he looked back at her from over his shoulder. "Ah really did wanna thank you. The way you took control an' found Cole so easily... ah was so panicked and you just went
into business mode."

"It's okay." He turned back to the boxes and let his eyes absently scan over them.

"Ah would have said more earlier, but it was pretty awkward with everyone there."

"Yes. I know. Thank you for leaving me with dem by d' way." He turned to give her a smirk and she rolled her eyes dramatically.

"Well, now we're even." She grinned, watching as he turned his attention to her bare dresser.

He worked the muscles in his jaw, trying to work up the courage to 'use his words'. He had no idea why it was so difficult. Sure, he'd fought the truth tooth and nail whenever Kitty would bring it up, but that was different. That was mostly
because Kitty just annoyed the crap out of him. But this was the real deal. He had to not only acknowledge it, but address it out loud; and that proved to be far more difficult than he'd anticipated.

He sucked in a breath and looked back at her.

"Cole told me about your talk." She puckered her brow. "About how we can make this all work out, an' that he won't be missin' out on anything." The corner of her mouth tugged up slightly. "And how he can call you Daddy."

Remy blinked at her before giving her a nod, signaling for her to continue.

"Did you mean that? That we can make this work?" She looked down at her hands and shook her head. "Because... ah don't know if ah could really leave if ah knew you weren't okay with all of this. Ah know it's all happenin' fast Remy, and
it's a lot to ask of you. But if ah knew you were really willin' t'work with me an' make this all work out." She looked up at him hopefully, her brow still puckered as she chewed her lip. "Ah wouldn't feel so bad about it."

Remy stared at her silently.

It was now or never; Speak now or forever hold your peace.

He rubbed the back of his neck as he sucked in a breath. "All I want," He started, squeezing his eyes shut for a moment. Even though Kitty may have been right all along, and that he really was very much in love with her, it suddenly dawned on him that he was too late. She'd grown up and moved on, and it was ridiculous for either Kitty or himself to have ever thought otherwise. She didn't want him. She'd made her choice.

"All I want is for you an' Cole to be happy. If you think it's better out dere for you two... den I want you to go."

"Thank you." Her face lit up and she quickly crossed the room, slipping her arms around his waist in a tight hug. "Besides, it's only a year right?" She rested her head against his shoulder as she spoke, and he wrapped his arms around her to hug back. "That's not so bad."

Remy closed his eyes and found himself trying to memorize this moment, drinking in everything about her as if he were a man on the brink of dehydration and enjoying the way she felt so close, just one last time.

And then she pulled away and smiled at him. "Ah better go. Joe has a spare suitcase for me." She spun around with a wave and slipped out of the room leaving nothing behind but the lingering smell of her intoxicating shampoo.

He plunked down on an open spot on her crowded bed and let out a breath.

It may only a year, but it'd be like a lifetime to him.

A/N- So again, sorry it's late. But YOU try driving halfway across the great white north with two kids under 3 in a mini van and tell me that you feel in any sort of mood to write afterward. HECK YES I DID.

Anyways, I'm not totally thrilled with this chapter, but it was either this or nothing. So... this it is. Hope you like it! :D

Also, just because I was given explicit permission to do so, I blame my inability to write in a timely manner on Starlight2twilight and her pirate ninja romy ways. And if you're wondering, yes she is a super turbo twihard, so feel free to pm her about Twilight.

(98% evil? MWAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA)

And one more thing? I would have had this up WAY SOONER, but I hit save and the whole friggin' thing ERASED. SOB!

That is all. :D

PS. I did a spell check and then was made aware that the spell check did not work. And now you all know my secret: I cannot spell worth a lick.