Thanks you guys for being patient. I had a family crisis this past week, so I was unable to find time to work on the post. It's up now, though, so I hope you all enjoy it! Thanks so much for all the reviews!
~BQ


Chapter Forty-One:


"What do y' t'ink o' dis one?"

Rogue looked up from her milkshake to peer over at the dress Mercy was pointing out in one of the many wedding magazines laying sprawled across the surface of the outdoor cafe table. "It's pink," she said, wrinkling up her nose in distaste.

"So? What's wrong wit' pink?"

A faint smile touched Rogue's lips, recalling similar arguments with Kitty back at the Institute. Her usual reply would have been to sarcastically ask what wasn't wrong with pink, but now she merely shook her head. "Ah jus' don' care fo' it, that's all. Never looked good in it."

"It ain't y' dat it's gotta look good on," Mercy pointed out.

"True," Rogue agreed with a shrug of her shoulders. "But do ya really think ya can convince Tessa t' put that thing on fo' the ceremony?"

Mercy shot their silent companion an appraising glance, and Tessa raised her eyebrow, making the blond woman sigh. "Non," she muttered, beginning to flip through the catalog once more. "Don' t'ink dat I can."

Rogue caught Tessa's eye across the table and smiled, nodding at Mercy. She's real excited 'bout the weddin' an' all, ain't she?

She got the distinct impression the telepath was smirking as she replied, She is not the only one. I saw the look in your eyes when we were in the bridal dress store this morning and...

Tessa trailed off, and Rogue's sixth sense bristled slightly. What is it?

We have company, Tessa replied, nodding behind Rogue.

Rogue turned to see Bella making her way across the patio of the cafe, her arms loaded with shopping bags. "Bonjour, Bella!" she called with an easy smile.

Bella gave her a smile in return. "Bonjour, Rogue, Mercy, Tessa. What brings y' here?"

"What else?" Mercy lifted the wedding magazine in explanation. "Speakin' o' which, how are yo' plans comin' along?"

"Bon," Bella responded, a happy smile crossing her lips. Rogue could practically see the light sparkling in her eyes, and it made her grin. Things had worked out rather nicely for them both.

"Why don' ya join us?" she offered, gesturing to the empty fourth chair at the table. "We can compare notes an' all. Make sure we don' pick out the same dresses or nothin'."

Bella chuckled as she sat down. "Dat would be somet'ing t' try an' avoid, oui?"

"De understatement o' de week," Mercy muttered, pausing in her magazine scouring to show Rogue another selection. Rogue shook her head, and Mercy continued searching. "Have y' picked out yo' dress yet, Bella?"

"Non," Bella answered, waving the waiter over to their table. After she had given him her drink order, she lifted one of the magazines from the table and opened it. "Have y', Rogue?"

Rogue smiled. "Yeah. Ah think Ah might have found the right one."

"Dis is de one she's t'inking o' orderin'," Mercy said, picking up another magazine and opening it to the page they had marked with a post-it-note.

"Tres bel," Bella breathed, her eyes glued to the page. "Rogue, dat's gorgeous. Yo' gon' look jus' merveilleux in it!"

Rogue blushed. "Thanks," she replied, unable to keep from grinning. "Ah hope so, anyway. Ah want t' look nice fo' Remy."

"Y' wear dat an' he'll be droolin' t'rough de whole ceremony," Bella retorted with a wink. "Je suis jalox. Mon pere wants me t' wear mon mere's dress. It's nice, but a li'l too out o' date fo' my tastes."

"I know what y' mean," Mercy said. "When Henri an' I were wed, mon mere nearly drove me crazy wit' all of her ideas."

Rogue tuned out the rest of their conversation, a hollow feeling washing through her stomach. Mon mere... she thought sorrowfully.

Mystique.

The old anger she had felt towards her mother had faded over time, replaced by an empty sort of longing, which was suddenly much stronger that it ever had been before. She was getting married, and her mother wasn't going to be there to help her get ready. Hell, she didn't even know if her mother was even still alive or not.

Ah wish she could be here, Rogue thought, her eyes stinging with moisture. Ah wish she was her t' help me plan this whole mess, an' that Kurt was here t' threaten t' teleport Remy t' Siberia. Ah wish Kitty was here t' be mah maid o' honor, an' Logan t' give me away.

Lord she missed them.

Even if they are not here in person, Tessa's voice filled her mind, and she looked up to see the dark-haired thief watching her intently. They are always with you in spirit. They are a part of you, just as you are a part of them. As you have become a part of us.

Those words meant more to Rogue than she could express, so she merely smiled at her friend, and Tessa smiled back warmly.

Your friends would want you to be happy.

Rogue nodded her head slightly. Ah know. An' Ah am happy. Happier than Ah ever dreamed Ah could be. It's jus'...

You miss them.

Yeah. Ah really, really do.

"Rogue?"

Shaking aside her reverie, Rogue turned to Mercy. "Hmm?"

"I asked if y' wanted anyt'ing else?" Mercy repeated, and only then did Rogue realize the waiter was standing at the table.

"Uh,no," Rogue said, shaking her head. "No thanks."

"I'll take a margarita," Bella told the waiter, and Rogue suppressed a snicker, knowing that the waiter knew Bella was underage, and yet knowing he would give it to her anyway. Being the daughter of the head of the Assassin's Guild certainly had its benefits. "Mercy, do y' want one?"

Something flickered across Mercy's face, then she shook her head. "Non. I t'ink dat I'll pass dis time."

As the waiter walked away, Tessa gave her a nod of agreement. "That is a wise decision, given your condition."

"Condition?" Rogue echoed, her body tensing in concern.

Mercy smiled brightly. "It's not'ing t' worry 'bout, Rogue. I'm fine, really. Dat's de reason I suggested dat we go out dis afternoon. I wanted t' make sure dat y' were de first t' know."

"Know what?" Bella asked, frowning. Rogue was glad she wasn't the only one confused.

Mercy grinned, her eyes dancing. "I'm pregnant."

Bella spit out her drink, and Rogue's eyes widened in disbelief. "Are ya serious?"

"O' course I'm serious," Mercy replied with a laugh. "De doctor confirmed it an' everyt'ing. In about six months yo' gon' be an aunt."

For a long moment there was stunned silence, and then Rogue threw herself at Mercy, embracing her soon-to-be sister-in-law tightly. "Oh mah God! Ah'm so happy fo' ya, Mercy!"

"Dat goes fo' me, too," Bella smiled, squeezing Mercy's hand tightly across the table. "Henri must be ecstatic."

"Twenty bucks says he nearly fainted when she told him," Rogue stage-whispered.

"Jus' 'bout," Mercy snorted. "He was speechless fo' a good five minutes, an' considerin' he's a LeBeau, dat's sayin' somet'ing."

"Indeed," Tessa agreed evenly. "You have my congratulations, as well, Mercy. I am sure your child will bring much happiness to the Guild."

"That an' a hell o' a lot o' trouble," Rogue said with a teasing grin.

"If de kid is a LeBeau, dat's almost a guarantee," Bella retorted dryly.

"Almost?" Mercy raised an eyebrow.

"Yo' right," Bella replied, reaching over to pat her hand. "Y' have my sympathies, Mercy. Yo' gon' have yo' hands full."

"Somehow Ah doubt she'll mind too much," Rogue said as the waiter returned with Bella's margarita.

"A toast," Bella proposed, lifting her glass. "T' Mercy an' Henri an' de son dey're gon' bring forth in t' dis world."

"An' t' de happines o' marriage," Mercy added, raising her water glass. "May y' both find it an' never lose it."

"T' new beginnin's," Rogue summarized with a smile.

"T' new beginnin's."


Translations:

Tres bel- very beautiful
merveilleux- wonderful
Je suis jalox- I am jealous
mon mere- my mother