It was quarter pass ten when Remy arrived at the Red Banner hand in hand with his future wife a long day had passed and it was time to tell the family of the news. The diner was closed for Remy's Welcome back party and stayed closed for on going meetings between the Guilds; it was the perfect location to meet, right on the boarder line of the two clans.

"Ah you're alive! Took you two long enough" Henry greeted the two. Mercy was in the back but the sarcastic voice for her husband signaled her they the couple of the hour were there. She dashed from the back kitchen with flour on her face, and apron full of rainbow colors from her cooking

"Oh you two are back ok, ok… ok, ok what did they say?!" she asked in a frantic state. Mercy was acting more concerned for Marie then anyone else there it was her own repressed maternal instincts resurfacing. Marie walked over to family who were sitting in side by side booths. Remy stood behind her as her supporter suppressing a killer smile

Marie lifted up a black and white ultrasound picture of the twins to the light so everyone could it see fully

"Oh my God! No!...No!" Mercy jumped up first yelling and hugging Marie; twirling her around. The men of the group except Remy were perplexed by the excitement, their faces were all blank.

"Oh! Hahaha this is great!....I'm so happy for you" Mercy told Marie in their hug.

The guys tilted their heads to Remy waiting for answers

"That's the Babies homme" He told them

"Babies" Etienne wondered allowed

"Babies" Theo looked in horror to Jean-Luc

"As in plural? Meaning more then one?" Henry stunned voiced quivered for a response. Remy shrugged his shoulders and nodded. The rest of the group briskly got up and tackled Remy with hugs and congratulations. "Remy, I knew you good but twins I didn't see coming!" Henry cheered

"Don't think the world can handle more LeBeau's much less young Remy LeBeau's" Theo congratulated him.

"You know what Tante is expecting of you now don't you" Henry said patting Remy on the back. Remy smirked suggestively at Marie; she lifted her hand showing off the wedding ring on his elegant finger. After that there was five minutes of non-stop girly screams of joy exchanged by Marie and Mercy. Somewhere between that and Henry picking his jaw off the floor in shock of his brother grown up acts, Champaign and orange juice was brought out to celebrate the special occasion. This was what was missing from Marie's life a family, an odd one that marched to their own drum but all the while constantly loving each other.

XXXXXXXX

Two hours of laughter and embracing stories later and guys were left alone in the diner. Mercy had dragged Marie home insisting that they need to get started on planning the wedding, both the groom and bride agreed that they wanted to be wed as soon as possible. The men left behind sat smoking cigars playing a relaxing game of poker.

"Where have you been all day truthfully" Henry tried a different approach to Remy's thoughts

"It's a lovely night out isn't it?" Remy went on about his own topic

"What did you do!"

"The sky is clear"

"Remy I hate it when you do this" Henry said ticked off

"The weather is nice too huh?" Remy flipped over his cards reviling royalty "That mon ami is how you play poker" Remy got up from the table and headed to door when his brothers yelled for him.

"Remy what are you doing?"

"Enjoying the night sky want to come see, the stars are bright" His family knew more then anyone that when Remy used metaphorical terms it wasn't to sound intelligent. They stood up voluntarily at Remy's request, Henry however didn't see the point; he knew something wasn't right and wasn't going to take part in the action. It was a bitter rival the two brothers shared like so many others.

Standing outside Remy pulled out a fresh cigar, stretching his neck up to the night sky.

"Why are you looking there?"

"Not looking staring…. right into the eyes of the storm"

The ground vibrated followed by a thud; when the ground moved as if it erupted. The magnitude of the explosion that- was set less then four blocks away surprised everyone. The flames quickly sprouted into the clear night sky the tips of them releasing rockets flares of bright colors into the night sky.

"What was that!!" Henry yelled in a panic rushing to his family. Remy, Jean-Luc, Etienne and Theo stood perfectly still watching the flames grow and smoke capture the air over the North side of town the Assassin Territory.

"Remy what was that!" Henry got in his brother personal space.

"An explosion…" Remy plainly spoke as if he had been asked the stupidest question.

"I know that I'm not fucking blind!"

"Henry calm down it looks like they weren't careful with their fireworks. A simple accident" Jean-Luc told his son placing his hands with deliberant pressure on his shoulder. Henry turned to the others, they all stared back at him like he was an alien. They were behaving like zombies under mind control. Henry was lost for a moment then what was missing hit him and it was him.

"You all planed this!"

"Planned!" Theo gave him a shocked almost betrayed face, he was the family's worse liar.

"Maybe the Assassin left a bunch of explosives and fire works unsupervised and maybe a flame pitch was left near a pipe line burning away and maybe that line was connected to weaponry house an old hotel and a meeting place? Strange things happen it's an imperfect world" Etienne fantasized

Henry faced his brother again "Flame pitch I guess that happened to be an ace of spades too?" Remy was unmoved and therefore didn't speak. "Let's hear your theory Remy…"

Remy put out the cigar in the ground, looking at his brother square in the eyes. "They gave her the cure it could damage her and my children." There was no facial emotion on Remy's face but Henry could only imagine what running around his head; if that was Mercy Henry had no doubt that he would have acted out of impulse too.

"….Next time I want in…" all rivals aside Henry offered his brother his hand and Remy accepted it.

XXXXXXXXX

They stood outside of the Banner for a better part of the night, waiting for the Assassins to try some counter attack. Mercy and Marie were well protected the security was on high alert at the mansion and all the other Guild brothers were on the tip toes.

"That's it, nothing going down" Theo voiced to the others "Looks like the next few days is going to be hectic"

"I've called a meeting for next week" Remy announced

"What when? You can't keep leaving us out of plans Remy" Henry commented

"I play some cards close to the chest Henry understand that."

"They won't show…" Theo more hopped then anything

"They will. Not showing up would break Guild tradition; meaning the argument would automatically be given to the other side." Jean-Luc explained

"Lets pack it in…" Etienne suggested. They all began to turn away to their cars when a disfigured figure merged from the foggy distance. Remy hadn't moved from his spot, he recognized the figure and it's hidden history.

"Go back home I handle this" he looked back to his brothers, his eyes flaming wildly.

From that they respected Remy wished and continued on their path; they knew who was coming; the hunting ex, which had plagued the Thieves ever since Remy departure. Bella Donna

"Remy"

"Bella Donna"

"No doubt you're behind this"

"Do you need me to respond?"

"Was this justice for you Remy?"

"Was the attempted rape of future wife just in anyway?"

"She was unmarked"

"I know how Assassins work I thought I loved one once. I know that you wouldn't let someone spend more then an hour in your presence without digging up info on them." Bella Donna had nothing to come back with, Remy did know much of the Assassins way. The remark about almost loving her was rubbing slat in old wounds, Remy was beyond upset with her; she couldn't fight that.

"Even if she wasn't marked does that make it anymore flair? Where is honor?" Remy questioned her aggressively

"Marcus was dead does that justify all of what happened?" Remy got comfortable leaning on the lamp post next to the Banner.

"He is lucky to have died such a quick death I would have made him suffer…the mouths of hell would have seen like a paradise" His voice grew "He would have had to begged and pleaded me to end his life so he could join his brothers in hell… beg me so much that blood would form instead of tears." The post he was leaning on was glowing brightly; cracks in the ground took on color steam rose out of the cracks. Bella was frightened; scared of what he could do no one else could bring out all of her emotions better then Remy. Bella Donna knew how strong Remy's love was and the lengths he was willing to go to defend it, she was living proof.

"…You spoke of peace once, a line of division" It took her a long time to find the words that wouldn't anger him any further "Then why are you acting like them?"

Remy settled himself pulling back his charge "Ask yourself Bella for all the times that we shared, as much as you know me… would I have acted any other way if that was you instead of Marie? You talk about me and what I want to happen? What do you want to happen?"

"What I want I can not have…I want that life you two share I wish that was me Remy…" She hugged herself not facing him

With no symphony he viciously said "Because you can't have what you want we all must suffer and pay the price for your own greed." There was a double meaning in Remy's words that burned at her soul this was the second time Remy was paying the price at her mercy.

"I will see you at the meeting…" Remy was right in his actions and arrangements there was nothing left there for her anymore. Bella Donna put on her strong mask to walk away from the only man she loved given all the times she forced herself to do it before, this one hit her heart the most.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

When Remy arrived back at the house everyone was asleep, he himself was tried and frustrated with the entire drama. The more thought he put into it the more he realized that this isn't the lifestyle he wanted for his children. Being in a relationship it was no longer up to him to make decisions had to do so as a team and Marie was acting fulfilled he wasn't willing to cut her off from her happiness. Remy quietly opened the door to his room; not bothering to turn the light he didn't want to wake up Marie.

"What kept you so long?" Marie turned the lamp on her legs crossed on the bed.

"I was talking business…"

"Don't lie Remy I saw the 'fireworks' you promised no more secrets" her head was slightly turned to the light so he could only see three fourths of her face.

Remy removed his dustier and sat on the bed with distance between them. "I didn't lie I was talking business"

"With who" she pointed to the clock it was minutes three

"Bella Donna"

"About"

"You"

"How much trouble did I cause…" Marie turned reviling her untouched face. Without the make-up hiding, the bruise was the only thing Remy could focus on. He stretched his hand to her face but she moved to avoid his shaking hand.

"You were innocent in the matter, leverage to them and I will not stand it."

"I Don't want there to be a war Remy. I want you home every night not wondering where or what has happened to you"

"Nothing will happen to me…" he held her hand

"You can't grantee me that!" she ripped away her "What would you have me do at night with your kids?"

"The war is been here, I have no say in the matter"

"Yes you do, you are a Guild member aren't you?" Remy looked away from her "You told me there were talks of peace"

"That was then"

"What was so different then?"

"I was betrayed Marie. By the ones I thought I loved more then life." He had the wounded face Marie hated to see. It was time to get to bottom of everything clear the air.

"Tell me everything this time no gaps" Remy realized that there was no were to hide, he told her so much already she deserved the truth.

"I was going to marry Bella, but her brother challenged me to the death. He never thought I was good enough for his sister. I was exiled for my actions two years later I heard word that Assassin leader Bella's father was on his death bed and requested me off all people"

Remy whipped his over his face running his hands threw his hair Marie knew this was serious. "He said that on his death bed he truly understood how my father must feel having to give away his son; after losing his own son he wanted no one else to suffer the same pain."

"He had a revelation?" she inquired

"I guess so" their eyes finally met "I was given back the right to be member my family again resume things with Bella Donna"

"But…"

"All her father wanted was peace now he put me up united leader, but not everyone liked this ideal. Information was up grabs at that point, with Julian out of the picture the other successor was Bella. I though she wanted the same things as me, I was wrong" Marie seeing Remy's tortured eyes knew he hurt deep from the betrayal.

"Her and my father made a deal to over vote me as the candidate and vote in a 'no one' who could take orders. They wanted to hold all the contacts, information…the power, their plan was turn the poor soul that they got to agree to their games- to their own side before the other one did."

"Who was it?"

"The sick part is calls him family now…Marcus." Even hearing the name brought shivers down Maries spine.

"How did she turn him?"

"She fucked him behind my back for weeks" It all made since why Remy hated Bobby Marie thought at the same time ironic

"My father clearly didn't know he was being duped either. So he continued with his side of the plan; he sold me out like I was cattle, it was suppose to be only for one gig, but when I was gone he offered me something I couldn't reuse…control. My father knew my weakness to well" Marie understood that; to get her own control she had to risk everything she had.

"When I was away I was voted out of the United Guild Leader position. There went peace and order, Bella Donna used Marcus to play the frame work for the Untied Guild. As the Untied Leader no one can oppose you, Marcus wasn't told and he sided with Bella Donna. She told him what to do; he broke the Guilds apart once Bella Donna got all of our contact information she wanted, giving the Assassins the upper hand"

"But your back now"

"Yeah it got bad fast down here. My family couldn't make a move without the Assassins knowing. They were blocked… because of all the independent work I did I have new clients and contacts which thieves could use to build a fresh life."

"Wouldn't you have to be leader?"

"Something like that…"

"Remy if you become a leader of high member whatever, I won't ever see you and will never stop worrying if I stay here…I want someone who will be there to love and who will love me back, be the good father I need…" Marie put Remy hand on her belly "What is it that you want Remy" she gently kissed him on the lips and turned to lay properly on the bed. They didn't speak for the rest of the night neither of them slept they just laid in the dark unsure of themselves.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Guild meeting the Red Banner-

"I hereby entre Remy Etienne LeBeau onto the board holding majority status" Jean-Luc spoke to the other community representatives; no one contested the rights that he was given. The reps for the Assassins showed up moments later with a less then pleased expressions on there faces pissed because of the stunt that thieves pulled on them.

Remy was getting ready to state the Thieves terms when some later comers caused him to sallow his words. Mercy walked in holding Marie's hand they sat in the back watching and patiently for the verdict that will revile their fate. To make Matters better Bella Donna showed up late but there none of the less, this meant that their was no automatic verdict anymore.

"I hold this meeting for ten minutes" the room sighed, the waiting was murder

Bella Donna went to talk to Remy but he bypassed her to Marie. "What are you doing here?" he confronted her in the corner

"This decision effects everyone in your life…I wanted to hear what you want" Marie stood firmly.

"Mercy why did you bring her" he asked his cousin

"I can speak for myself Remy"

"The doctor said no stress chere"

"Like I would be more stressed at home" There was no getting threw to Marie it was one thing that Remy loved about her, her stubbornness.

"Just tell me what are you going to do? Tell me and I'll leave…" Remy let go of a breath, no words followed

"You don't know what you're going to do?" Marie almost lost it, her bows became narrow and her breathing heavy "what is there to think about, I can't believe this? How is this difficult?" her anger was mounting Marie knew it was time to leave "Time to go Mercy. Take me back to the house" she used the word house on purpose

Remy watched Marie storm out she was upset while Remy was ashamed and disappointed with his actions. There was no time to process what happened, the meeting was starting back up again and Bella Donna was at his side.

"Remy…" Remy cringed inside when she said his name

"My life is falling apart again there isn't anything you could possibly say to me… Why is that when I come near you I lose everything?" Remy brushed passed her walking back to front of the room, taking a seat on the council of Thieves.

"We left off at a stand still…" Jean-Luc declared

Bella sat opposite of Remy watching his frozen expression. To her that was the face of death, he was miserable being forced to chose between two path he equally respected and loved dearly.

"There is no stand still….I Bella Donna Boudreaux wave my vote to Remy LeBeau of the Thieves Guild." Shocked faces, pissed faces and perplexed faces drew from the crowd at Bella's words.

Remy didn't waste time thinking twice he quickly voices his reason "I order that a ceasefire be immediately put in effect. Those pass actions that have occurred out of acts of vegans to rest. As holder of majority vote my actions can not be disputed by any member except my successor."

"I's" some fake, some sincere other still to numb by the fast pace meeting just followed the crowd.

"Then it's over" Remy said looking to his family who was pleased with the recent actions resulting in there favor. It wasn't enough for Remy he wasn't happy and no where near proud of the end result.

The ceasefire wasn't going to last long, in no time the two Guilds would be back to their old ways. It excused his bad decisions but it wasn't peace and that was what needed between the two families. Remy wasn't a Thief or an Assassin not and that finally registered in his head.

"Wait…" he yelled. The crowd shuffled among themselves to get back to their seats

"I retire me position as majority holder for the Thieves Guild to Henry LeBeau." Chatter fumed and stunned faces reflected their conversation, the Thieves could handle surprises but this meeting was packed full of them. To the Assassins this proved that the Thieves were unorganized and confused.

"You said you wanted in…" Remy told his brother hugging him before doing a made dash to the door.

Outside Remy was getting into the back seat of the family car when voiced all after him.

"Remy!" It was Bella Donna and she was determined to talk to him.

"Didn't think that you had kindness like that in you?" Remy said turning to see her

"I owe you a life happiness…even if it isn't with me…" a tear ran down her cheek at the thought of her sacrifice. But in the end it was worth it Remy feelings were important to her.

Remy took her hand and kissed it "Maybe one day you will find some" he exited Bella Donna's life as gentlemen the same way he entered in it.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Marie had been ranting in Mercy's room for the past hour; unable to control her feeling she was in a track suit as percussion. Mercy suggested a shower to cool her thoughts; it took a bit of convincing but Marie gave in to her kind friend advice.

Reaching the door to her room went slamming the door shout behind her; Marie held her belly as drops of water fell from her eyes. She bowed her head in self doubt dragging her back to her old fears, when a deep voice busted out of the silence.

"Didn't know Angels could cry"

"What are you doing here" Remy took up a face towel lying near by using it to dry her tears. He pushed back her wet bangs that clouded the view of her full face

"Taking what I want…" he pulled her by the hand towards the washroom "…And I want it all" Remy used their tied hand to bring Marie into him, he sank his wet lips onto her moisten one. It was gentle at the start but each time their lips crushed more passion and love was exchanged. Slowly they pealed off their cloths still kissing and failing into each other sinful touch.

With Marie naked in front of him he led her to washroom; the huge old 1950's tub was filled with bubbles and water jets were on keeping the water warm and frothy. "I thought we could take a bath?" An adventurous smile played on Remy's lips, while a teasing on graced Marie movie star face.