Chapter Thirty:


New Orleans.

The Big Easy.

It was Remy LeBeau's home, the city he loved more than any other. It was amazing the feeling that he got as he drove through the dark streets of the French Quarter. Like he had just returned after years and years away from home. And with Rogue at his side, he had never felt more happy to be back.

"Papa gon' be real surprised t' see you," Henri said. "Den he gon' beat yo' head in fo' not writin' while you was gone."

Remy snorted as they walked through the courtyard of their father's estate. "Bet Tante Mattie gon' hit a lot harder, though."

"True," Henri agreed with a grin. "Mercy missed you, by de way."

Remy smiled at the thought of his sister-in-law. Mercy LeBeau was a free-spirited, stubborn woman, but she had a good heart, and Remy had always been fond of her. "Remy missed dat femme, too. Jus' don' you go tellin' her dat. She never let me hear de end o' it."

"Dat's jus' cuz she thinks it's fun t' torture you.

"Like Ah said," Rogue snickered from behind them. "A smart woman."

Both Henri and Remy turned to look at her, and Remy couldn't help the way his chest tightened when he saw her. She was so beautiful, with that gorgeous dark hair of hers, made even more attractive by the fetching white locks that framed her angelic face. Her eyes were the most intense shade of green he had ever seen, and whenever she looked at him, he couldn't help feeling like she could see into his soul. And in this place of his childhood, in his father's home, with her eyes wide in awe as she studied every detail she could of the estate, he had never been more aware of just how beautiful she was.

"I like her," Henri said with a grin, nodding his head at Rogue. He'd shaved it again since Remy had last seen him, the dark stubble coating his hair the same shade as the goatee growing on his chin. "She don't fall fo' any o' dat charm o' yo's."

Remy groaned. "Don' remind me. Dere's jus' no way t' get myself out o' trouble wit' her. She immune t' de LeBeau charm."

"Or maybe ya jus' losin' ya touch, sugah," Rogue drawled with a smirk.

Remy wondered if she knew how alluring that smirk was. "Moi? Losin' my touch?" he echoed incredulously. "Dat jus' not possible, chere."

"Ya jus' keep thinkin' that, then, swamp rat," Rogue replied dryly, then turned her attention back to their surroundings. Remy could understand that, his father's estate really was a beautiful place, but he had grown up here, so it didn't inspire awe in him the way it did in most visitors.

"Finally, a girl dat can beat you at yo' own game," Henri said with a wry smile.

"She certainly try," Remy replied, glancing at the cluster of thieves slinking along the shadows around them. "Didn' see Emil in de crowd t'night," he commented to his brother.

"He's wit' Tessa keepin' watch on de east side o' town," Henri explained. "Wit' all de assassins runnin' 'round right now, Papa felt it best t' have eyes out all over de city."

"Bonne idée," Remy said, though he was a little disappointed that he wouldn't get to see his cousin that night. He and Emil had always been close. "De Assassins, dey goin' a li'l far dis time, non?"

Henri glanced back at Rogue nervously, and in that one movement, Remy knew what he was about to talk about. Knew who he was about to talk about. "De treaty will keep dem in line, once it's signed. But dat won' happen till you an' Bella mariez."

Remy groaned. The last thing he wanted to think about was Bella. It was true that he found the girl attractive, who wouldn't? She was small and thin with long golden hair and bright crystal blue eyes. He had even dated her at one time, although neither of them had ever really had much choice in the matter. He cared for Bella, yes, but it wasn't love.

It wasn't anything like what he felt for Rogue.

Rogue had learned the truth about his betrothal to Belladonna the day after he'd first kissed her, when it had popped into her head loud and clear from all of the memories she'd absorbed from his mind, and she had taken it surprisingly well. She'd made it perfectly clear that she wasn't happy about it, but once he'd assured her that he was in love with her, that he would forsake his family, his home, his way fo' life for her, she had relented.

The scary thing was, he had meant every word of it.

He was willing to leave New Orleans forever, to turn his back on his father and brother and the Guild, if it meant he got to have Rogue at his side. He knew it would most likely mean war between the Thieves Guild and the Assassin's Guild, but that didn't matter as much as Rogue did. He didn't know how he was going to get out of his arranged marriage to Bella, but he was determined that he would do it somehow.

He was just grateful that Rogue was being understanding about it.

"I don' love Bella," Remy hissed. "I love Rogue. An' dat's jus' de way it is. Remy, he gon' try an' do what he can t' make t'ings right, but not if it means hurtin' Rogue. Dat's where I draw de line, comprenez?"

Henri stared at him for a moment as they walked through the front door, which one of the other thieves had opened for them. "You really fallen fo' dat girl den? Dis ain't jus' a crush? You t'ink you wan' marry her?"

Remy stuffed his hands in the pockets of his duster. "Remy t'ink dat he wan' t' be wit' her, no matter de cost."

"Why thank ya, sugah," Rogue's voice filtered to his ears from behind them as she smiled at the thief holding the door open for her.

Henri glanced at her again, then turned back to Remy. "Et que diriez-vous des Guildes, Remy? Si vous ne mariez pas Bella, ce qui alors?" he asked evenly. "Vous deux êtes promis entre eux."

Remy was about to inform him that Rogue spoke French quite fluently, but she beat him to it. "Promises have meanin' among thieves now?" she drawled. "Now ain't that somethin' t' behold."

Remy couldn't decide if the look on his brother's face was one of surprise that she had understood him, or anger at the insult. Deciding he didn't want to find out, he turned to Rogue and said, "Chere, play nice. I tol' you t' behave."

Rogue sighed, rolling her eyes. "Fine. Ah'll be on mah best behavior from now on. Happy now, swamp rat?"

"Non," Remy replied, and leaned in to kiss her lightly on the lips. "But now I am."

Rogue blushed slightly. "Oh, be quiet ya snake charmer," she said, shoving him away gently, mindful of her strength so she didn't knock him off his feet. Still, it was hard enough to make him stumble a little.

"Don' know yo' own strength?" Henri asked with a smirk.

Rogue blushed slightly. "Mah powers are a bit new, ya could say. Sometimes Ah fo'get t' compensate fo' mah strength."

"Don' worry 'bout it," Henri grinned. "Remy needs fo' someone t' beat some sense in t' him every now an' den."

They stopped at the study door and Henri smirked. "You two wait here. I go in an' tell dem we got vis'tors. Den we can all get a laugh out o' de looks on deir faces, hahn?"

Remy watched his brother slip into the study, and heard Jean-Luc call out to Henri warmly. Hearing his father's voice made Remy's throat tighten with emotion. It had been too long since he'd been home. Too long, indeed. Part of him wished he'd never left, that he ahd turned Magneto's offer down.

Then again, if he had, he would never have met Rogue.

And that more than made up for the long absence from home.

"Allow me t' introduce our guests," Henri's voice called loudly.

Squeezing Rogue's hand one last time, and beckoning for her to follow, Remy stepped into the study with a grin on his face. "Bonjour, ma famille!" he drawled. "Did you miss Remy?"

His father, Tante Mattie and Mercy all stared in surprise, their eyes wide. For a moment no one spoke, and then Mercy was squealing his name and racing across the room to throw her arms around him. "Remy!" she shrieked happily. "You came home!"

Remy laughed, hugging her back. "Oui, p'tite," he replied. His eyes widened as he took in her appearance. "Merde," he murmured, reaching out a hand to touch her blond tresses, which now hung just barely to her shoulders. "You cut yo' hair!"

Mercy grinned. "Took yo' brother a full hour t' notice."

"It did not," Henri muttered indignantly.

"Did so, Henri," Mattie scolded, rushing forward to embrace Remy. "Let me look at you, boy," she ordered, holding him out at arms length, her brown eyes raking him over appraisingly. She shook her head, her black braids falling in her eyes. "You came back in one piece, dat's sayin' somet'ing at least. Wit' all does anti-mutant attacks, we was worried 'bout you."

"Remy can take care o' himself," Remy reminded her with a smile.

"But he can't take de time t' write o' pick up de phone?" Mattie demanded, smacking him across the back of the head. "Don' you know dat yo' family worries 'bout you, boy?"

"I t'ink he got de message, Mattie," Jean-Luc said with a smile, stepping forward. He hadn't really changed since the last time Remy had seen him, but he did look a bit older, maybe a little more tired. His eyes, though, were bright and warm as he embraced him. "Remy, mon fils, it good t' see you home 'gain."

Remy grinned and hugged his father tightly. "Good t' be home, Papa," he replied. Softly, he added, "Je me suis ennuyé de vous."

Jean-Luc hugged him back. "Je me suis ennuyé de vous, aussi, Remy."

"An' who is dis?" Mattie asked pointedly.

Remy stepped back from his father and motioned for Rogue to move to his side. "Dis," he said. "Is a very good friend o' mine. Her name's Rogue, an' she's a mutant, jus' like Remy."

"A friend, hahn?" Mattie echoed suspiciously, her eyes twinkling. "Don' know how you put up wit' him, girl," she said to Rogue with a wink.

Rogue smiled. "Ah suffer through."

"Bonjour," Mercy said, extending her hand to Rogue with a smile. "De name is Mercy." Remy watched his family introduce themselves one at a time, his eyes narrowed. Mercy seemed happy to have another girl around, and from the way they were both laughing already, he'd been right about the two of them getting along.

Henri, he knew, liked Rogue already. Remy knew how to read his brother, and there had been no mistaking the instant respect and admiration he had for her. Remy had no concerns about the two of them, given time they would probably become very close.

He watched his father carefully as Jean-Luc bowed to Rogue, kissing her hand. From the furtive glance his father shared with Mattie, the two of them had already guessed the truth about Remy's relationship with Rogue.

"You from de South, non?" Jean-Luc asked her.

Rogue nodded. "Ah'm from Mississippi originally, but the past few years Ah've been attendin' school up in New York."

"De city?"

"Bayville," Rogue corrected, and, even though it only lasted a moment, the flicker of sadness in her eyes nearly broke Remy's heart. "Ah've been t' the city, though. It's real nice, but a li'l too cold if ya ask me."

Jean-Luc chuckled. "I would have t' agree wit' you on dat, Mademoiselle. De temperature dere, she is too cold fo' my likin'."

"Mine, too," Mattie said, shaking her head, no doubt at the thought of snow. Remy had to grin at the idea of her trudging through the winter streets of New York. She would hate it.

Jean-Luc looked over at Remy, and it was clear from the expression on his face that he wanted to talk to him in private. Let's jus' hope dat dis go well, Remy muttered silently. He wasn't looking forward to having an argument with his father, much less on his first night home. Especially not about something as important as Rogue.

"Mattie, Mercy" Jean-Luc said, turning to smile at them. "Why don' you two take Rogue up t' de bedrooms an' get her settled. I'm sure dat she could sue some time t' rest after de journey." He glanced at Remy, then added, "Put her near Remy's room if dat's t' her likin'."

Remy shot his father a grateful look. He was sure Rogue could manage just fine being apart from him, but after so many months of having her nearby, he'd grown attached to her presence being just a wall or two away. He would sleep better knowing she was close by.

"Thank ya," Rogue said with a smile. "Ah'd appreciate that."

"Come dis way, den," Mercy said, gesturing to the door. "Do you have any t'ings wit' you?"

"Her b'longin's are down in de courtyard," Remy answered. "Long wit' mine. Take dem up t' my room, s'il vous plaît?"

"I can do dat," Henri said, obviously catching on that their father wanted to speak to Remy alone. He turned to his wife. "I bring Rogue's bags up t' de room next t' Remy's. Dat room has a nice salle de bains attached. Right proper fo' a femme, non?"

"Merci beaucoup," Rogue said. "Ah 'preciate it, really."

"C'est mon plaisir," Henri replied, then slipped out into the hallway.

"Let's get you settled den, non?" Mattie asked Rogue with a smile, leading the way out the door. She tossed a wink back at Remy. "Don' worry none, Remy, we take good care o' her."

Remy watched them go, offering Rogue a small smile of reassurance as the other two women led her out of the room, shutting the door behind them and leaving him alone with his father.

Best t' get dis over wit', he mumbled to himself. Sighing, he turned to face his father, only to find Jean-Luc studying him thoughtfully. "What?" he demanded.

"Not'ing," Jean-Luc replied, barely suppressing a smirk.

"Don' give me dat," Remy replied. "You lookin' at Remy like he jus' grown a second head o' somet'ing!"

Wordlessly, Jean-Luc turned and walked to his desk, lifting a bottle of Jack Daniels and pouring himself a glass. Remy gritted his teeth, waiting. Finally, his father turned to face him again, leaning back against the desk. "Dis Rogue girl, you really like her, don' you?"

"Would I have brought her here if I didn'?" Remy retorted.

"Do you love her?" Jean-Luc asked, ignoring his remark as easily as if he had never spoken.

"Oui," Remy replied with a nod. "I do."

His father took a sip of his drink, nodding to himself. "Thought you might. Never seen you look at a femme like dat b'fore." He gave him a pointed glance over the rim of his glass. "Not even Bella."

"Dat's cuz Remy never been in love wit' Bella," Remy replied, his throat suddenly dry.

"An' what are yo' intentions, Remy?" Jean-Luc asked, more curious than demanding. "You say you love dis girl. Do you love her enough t' break yo' vows t' de Guild?"

Remy swallowed. He'd known how hard this would be, and yet nothing could have prepared him for the terrible ache in his chest. "Oui," he rasped out. "I do. An' it don' matter what you t'ink 'bout her, it ain't gone change de way I feel fo' her."

His father didn't look nearly as surprised as Remy would have expected. Instead, Jean-Luc merely took another sip of his drink, pursing his lips slightly. The two men stared at each other for a long moment in silence, until Remy couldn't take it anymore.

"Say somet'ing!" he cried. "Anyt'ing!"

"What you wan' me t' say, Remy?" Jean-Luc replied. "Dat dis doesn't make t'ings harder? Dat dis doesn't concern me? Je suis desole, but dat I cannot do. You an' Bella were betrothed when you were not'ing but li'l children. Yo' marriage was sp'osed t' tie de two Guilds t'gether, t' secure peace between us. Den you jus' run off t' join some mutant crusade one day, an' when you come back, it's wit' some girl at yo' heels, who you claim t' be in love wit'."

"I am in love wit' her," Remy insisted.

"Dat much I agree wit' you on," Jean-Luc replied with a snort. "T' take dis kind o' risk, you have t' be. An' anyone be able t' tell, if dey see you lookin' at her de way you were b'fore. What you gon' do when Bella sees you lookin' at her like dat?"

"Remy's not gon' marry Belladonna," Remy said firmly. "I'm in love wit' Rogue, not Bella, an' dat jus' de way it is. Bella gon' hafta deal wit' dat."

"An' de Assassin's Guild?" Jean-Luc asked. "Dey jus' gon' hafta 'deal wit' dat', too?"

Remy raised his chin. "If Boudreaux got a problem wit' dat, he take it up wit' me."

Jean-Luc sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "It not dat easy, Remy, an' you know dat."

"Oui," Remy agreed quietly. "I do."

His father studied him for a long moment, through narrowed, appraising eyes. "I can' make no promises, Remy," he said evenly. "Dis is complicated now, t'anks t' you an' de girl-"

"Rogue," Remy corrected.

Jean-Luc acknowledged the rebuke with a faint smile. "T'anks t' you an' Rogue, den. Dis is a sensitive matter, comprenez? You wan' get out o' dis betrothal? Den you gon' have t' do it right, which means dat you play by my rules, non?"

Remy opened his mouth to reply, then stopped, startled, and stared at his father in disbelief. Was he offering him a way out...?

"If yo' sure 'bout dis girl..." Jean-Luc said, raising an eyebrow inquisitively. Remy nodded that he was, so Jean-Luc continued, "Den I'll see what I can do t' help you out wit' dis."

"Why?" Remy asked, unable to hide his surprise.

"Why what?"

"Why you takin' dis so well?" Remy asked suspiciously, narrowing his eyes. "Why you jus' acceptin' dat I don' wan' t' marry Bella? Why you willin' t' help me get out o' dat mess?"

"De answer t' dat is simple, mon garcon," Jean-Luc replied. "I know you. If de engagement t' Bella don' get broken, dere's a very real chance dat you might jus' up an' leave wit' Rogue an' not come back till yo' already hitched. Jus' imagine de mess dat I'd have t' clean up den, hahn?"

Remy didn't the probability of that.

"'Sides," Jean-Luc smirked. "De prospect o' havin' Marius Boudreaux in de family isn't exactly what I'd call pleasin'."

Remy had to agree with him there. "Merci, Papa," he said. "It mean a lot t' me dat you gon' do dis."

"I'm gon' try," Jean-Luc said, a warning tone to his voice. "Don' get too excited. It may not work. Don' know how I'm gon' get Marius Boudreaux t' agree t' dis..." he trailed off, shaking his head as if the pure absurdity of what he was talking about had sunk in.

But he didn't take it back.

"I know dat," Remy replied quietly.

"Good. An' try not t' spend too much time wit' Rogue out in de open, hahn? Let Mercy be her tour guide o' de city. De last t'ing we need is one o' de assassins seein' you romancin' her. Dat'd put a stop t' our plans real quick."

"Remy be careful," Remy promised.

"Remy better be," Jean-Luc retorted. His expression softened as he turned to gaze at his younger son. "S' good t' have you home 'gain, Remy."

"S' good t' be home, Papa."

"Go get yo'self cleaned up an' unpacked," his father told him, nodding at the door. "No doubt Mattie's done gone an' decided t' prepare a big dinner t' celebrate yo' homecomin'."

Remy smiled at the prospect of some of Tante Mattie's cooking. He'd missed her cooking while he was working for Magneto. "I can only hope," he replied, flashing his father a grin before moving across the room to the door.

He was turning the handle when Jean-Luc spoke his name.

"Oui?" he asked, turning to find his father standing by the window, his back to him.

"De girl," Jean-Luc said simply. "I like her." A breath of pause, then, in a wry tone, "Not dat it matters what I t'ink."

Remy grinned. "Right. Not dat it matters."

He could have sworn he heard his father chuckle as he walked out of the room.


Translations:

Bonne idée- Good idea
mariez- marry
Et que diriez-vous des Guildes?- And what about the Guilds?
Si vous ne mariez pas Bella, ce qui alors?- if you don't marry Bella, what then?
Vous deux êtes promis entre eux- You two are promised to each other
Bonjour, ma famille- Hello, my family
mon fils- my son
Je me suis ennuyé de vous- I missed you
aussi- too
Mademoiselle- Miss
salle de bains- bathroom
C'est mon plaisir- It's my pleasure
Je suis desole I am sorry
mon garcon- my boy