Rating: M
Disclaimer: Don't own X-Men, They are Marvel Property.
Disclaimer: Don't own 'Her Diamonds' by Rob Thomas.
FINAL PART of the "Rain, Tears and Diamonds" mini-story. I've been sick today so I thought I'd treat myself to some fanfiction writing to ease my pain ;) lol
-Gams
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Her Diamonds
The muffled rumble of aeroplanes flying overhead hummed in their ears as the three men made their way through the narrow space that led to the arrivals terminal. The noise of hustle and bustle of the terminal became louder with each step as they followed the line of people. Remy LeBeau silently thanked his boss for the private plane they had flown in as he watched a weary looking mother pass by. A pair of whining, wailing children hung off her arms like monkeys while she tried to push a trolley of luggage. The unfortunate mother was pushed from his thoughts however when he happened upon a young couple not a few people down the line. They were wrapped arm in arm with each other, her head fit perfectly into the slope of his neck as he pushed their luggage on a trolley. Remy gave a knowing smile as they whispered secretively to each other. Call him a man gone soft, but the sight reminded him of a none-too-different couple. He was struck suddenly by an anxious sense of need. Three weeks wasn't long really but to him it was an eternity too long spent away from his girl. Call him needy, he needed her like he needed air to breathe. He turned his shaded gaze away from the couple as the sight began to sting unpleasantly. 'Jus' keep it together homme. She be out dere waitin'. Y' don't need t' start de separation anxiety now...' It was then he notice that the line was moving, causing him to stumble slightly as someone pushed him from behind. A maniacal chuckle caught his ears as he straightened to a casual stride once more.
"God, mate. You look like you got a cat's butt for a face with all that poutin' you're doin'. Missing your sheila that bad aye?"
The Pyromaniac Australian gave a knowing smirk at his own words as he clapped his friend on the back. Remy shrugged him off offhandedly but smirked nonetheless at his friend's words. John and Piotr were not like the other Acolytes at the base. Being the first three, they shared a bond that ran closer to brotherhood than any work contract or team loyalty could bind them with. Over the years they'd worked together, lived together, they struck an unspoken pact of loyalty; they looked out for each other. That's why John and Piotr were the only ones who knew that he and Rogue were dating. Out of the few friends Remy had had in his lifetime, Piotr and John were by far the most loyal and compassionate. It was probably because they were all in the same boat; all hired under the same predicament of blackmail and dallying in dark business. Though Remy longed to leave Magneto's team, he couldn't bring himself to regret joining in the first place. It had brought him to Rogue and given him a pair of friends worth their weight in gold. How could he regret such a decision if they were the rewards he received? Like routine, he reached out and messed a hand through the crazy Aussie's fright of red hair and punched his shoulder like he would his brother. As usual, the playful wrestle turned into an onslaught of light punches and headlocks, causing many a weary or irritable arrival to stare with furrowed brows and irritated glares. The fun was shortly brought to an end when Colossus stepped in. The Gentle Giant caught the scruffs of their collars and set them with ease on either side of him before continuing to silently push their luggage on a trolley. It was like separating a pair of puppies from getting too aggressive. While Remy smirked John was momentarily silenced with a pout of disappointment before a new game struck his fancy. He began to lightly punch Piotr's shoulder as he teased.
"What about you Tin Man? You gonna make a move on the Kitty-Kat one of these days?"
The shy Russian blanched for a second before a flush of pink stained his cheeks. He began to stutter slightly as his accent became thicker with the strain of nerves.
"What-? I- do not know. I- No. No- I..."
As the Russian continued to stutter and blush as pink as the inside of a watermelon, Remy turned his attention back to the front of the line. As the fogged, glass doors stood prepped open at the end of the tunnel, a crowd of people stood behind a metal bar not ten feet away. Families and friends both great and small stood huddled together, some sporting 'welcome home' signs while others sported names as they waited and greeted their loved ones. Remy felt his heart sink as they neared the doors. He hadn't told Rogue to meet him at the airport. Knowing her, she was probably half way across the world dallying in saving-the-word and all its extras. Besides, keeping in contact with her had been difficult this trip. He didn't even know if she was home- His trail of thought was brought to an abrupt halt as his eyes did a double take of the crowd.
Beyond the hoard of families and arrivals, near a white pillar stood a lone figure.
A bright smirk spread across his lips, causing wrinkles of mirth to line his handsome face. Only one woman had that kind of two-toned hair.
Remy turned to John as they passed through the glass doors. The words 'Can you cover for me?' had barely reached his lips when John raised a hand and silence him. He let out a mockery of bored sigh as he took his friend's bag and slipped it over his own shoulder. When Remy didn't move, he ushered his hands and exclaimed with a maniacal smile.
"Well go on! Don't keep 'er waiting you fool!"
His words served better as encouragements rather than ridicule as Remy swiftly zigzagged between the line of people. His heart hammered against his heaving chest as he jogged at a quick pace. Damn his reputation for being cool and suave, he wanted to get to her as fast as possible. The three weeks of separation became more apparent as each step brought him close but not close enough. He watched with an unabashed smile as his chére stepped out from hiding. A chuckle and a smile danced across her rosy lips when she caught sight of him. Not moments later, she let out a squeal of delight as he hoisted her into the air and spun her around in his arms. Her feet barely touched the ground when his lips crashed feverishly over hers. It was several minutes before they rose for air. As they pulled back slightly, Remy let go only to hurriedly rid himself of his fingerless gloves. He pocketed them before he reached out to cup her smiling face between his bare palms. Not an inch of her face was left untouched by his warm gaze. He returned to the world of the present at the sound of her soft chuckle of amusement. Rogue's gloved hands wrapped around his neck as she whispered in a husky tease.
"Well hello t' ya too Swamp Rat."
He gave a low chuckle that rumbled through his chest before capturing her lips in a brief, sweet kiss. Her vanilla flavoured lip-gloss was enjoyably sweet, but personally he preferred the taste of her own lips. A deep sigh of all sorts of emotions escaped his lips as he rested his forehead against hers. He dared not close his eyes upon fear of opening them to find himself waking from his beautiful dream of returning to her.
"Missed y' like crazy, y' know dat?"
Another chuckle escaped her vanilla-flavoured lips as she nuzzled her nose against his. The feel of her warm skin against his was the pinch he needed to know that he wasn't dreaming. With her in his arms, he was truly home.
"Ya mentioned it a couple o' tahmes in ya phone calls, but ah lahke hearin' it."
A devilish smirk played across his lips as he pulled her closer for another kiss. He had a thousand kisses to make up for and he intended on repaying every single one. He was about to deepen the kiss again when her lips suddenly pulled away. At his bemused smile and look, she glanced back and forth between their surroundings before pulling back slightly. His hands remained like iron clasps around her waist as he kept her rooted on the spot. She worded her reasons in a reproachful whisper.
"Knock it off Rems- We're out in the open remember? Ya'll don't know if someone's-"
An amused chuckle rumbled through his throat as he pulled her up against the pillar. He began to nuzzle her neck as he replied gently.
"I don't care if someone sees us. I been away from y' f' t'ree long, lonely weeks...et I intend t' make up for it."
Though she chuckled anxiously at his ticklish ministrations, one of her hands came to rest against his chest and she pushed him back with a light push. With the momentary gap between them, she caught his chin between her gloved fingers and re-directed his gaze to meet hers.
"Ah think Johnny boy an' Tin Man maght take offence t' that statement darlin'."
A smirk brandished itself across his lips as he slipped his hands from her waist only to grasp one of her gloved hands in his. She had known what he was about to do before he did it and swiped her hand away before he could remove the glove. She gave him a patronizing scowl as she whispered hurriedly for him to stop. To her, taking off her gloves in public was like stripping in public. She tried to keep her hands out of his reach but he was too quick and far too persistent. After a moment or two of chase, he clasped her left hand in his and progressed to remove the glove. He spoke softly as he did so.
"Jus' want t' see if y' kept true t' y' promise..."
He pinched the tip of the middle finger between his index and thumb only to slip it off at a slow pace. The glove slipped off with little protest from her only to reveal a pale hand and gold, diamond encrusted ring wrapped around her marriage finger. He tilted her wrist from side to side as he admired it silently, his dark shades slipped down the bridge of his nose to give him a better look. Rogue watched with a gentle smile across her lips as those red orbs she loved so dearly began to glow. Her hand remained locked in his gentle hold as he raised his head and spoke.
"Y' kept y' promise ma coeur. Y' set on making an honest man o' dis t'ief?"
A melodic, husky chuckle escaped her lips as she took a small step closer. The gap between them continued to close as their noses touched. Her ringed hand slid around his neck only to be lost in his unruly auburn hair as she replied lovingly.
"Can't turn a thief honest but ah'm sure as hell gonna try an' make an honest man of ya Cajun."
Remy gave a husky chuckle and leant forward to catch her lips. When he pulled away, he whispered.
"Dat's m' girl."
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Hours Later...
Remy woke at the cracking sound of lightning. His head shot up for a moment as it flashed across the windows of the bedroom but lowered with ease when he realised what it was. A deep sigh blew through his lips as rain continued to drizzle miserably against the glass. He stretched his arms and turned, expecting to look into the sleeping face of his fiancée beside him. He was surprised to find her bare back in its place.
The surprise was quick to turn to concern when his empathy picked up on her anxious mood. He shifted carefully to look over her shoulder only to come across a sight he had not anticipated. A bout of worry gutted him as she played idly with the engagement ring between her delicate fingers. There was only one thought that drifted through his mind at the sight. Was she having second thoughts already?
He had had everything planned down to the very last candle for when he would propose to her. It was set to be the most romantic set up of their lives (apart from their Wedding night of course). After a course of weeks of dallying over the idea, he built up his determination to the very rim and stepped into a jewellery store. Hours later, he stepped out with a diamond encrusted band in a velvet box. That had been the easy part of the deal. How he was meant to propose, was the real challenge. Every corny, romantic and silly idea popped into his head before he came up with the perfect proposal set up. At one point, he remembered with a silent chortle, he planned on baking a cake and planting the ring within it so that she could literally sink her teeth into it. However, it wasn't the corny nor the intended idea that made him pop the question. They had just gotten back from a night on the town and since the X-Men were in Canada for the weekend, Rogue had decided that it was perfectly safe for her to stay at their apartment. It had been cold that night so, like the gentleman he professed to be, he gave her his coat and toughed through the cold in a feeble dress shirt.
She had made to get the apartment keys from his pocket when she happened upon the velvet black case.
He had wanted to smack himself for forgetting he had put it there but wasn't given the chance to when she raised the velvet box before him. He still remembered the way her eyes turned glossy when she finally managed to ask what 'this' was. Without any other choice, he had knelt there on the doormat in the classic, down-on-one-knee proposal stance and took the velvet box from her trembling fingers. She had said yes before he even started his proposal speech.
The memory made him smile despite the worry that gripped him at the sight of her present actions. They had got engaged about a week before he left for his three week mission with John and Piotr. So there was a chance she had changed her mind. He pushed his fears back as he brushed away her auburn curls from her shoulder. He pressed his lips against her warm flesh as he rolled over to his side and wrapped his arms around her waist. He nuzzled his nose into the crook of her neck as he spoke, his voice thick with sleep.
"Hope dat's not a habit f' second t'oughts chére."
She jumped abruptly, almost startled before relaxing in his arms. To his relief, she returned the ring to its rightful place before turning around in his arms. She pressed a brief kiss to his lips and let her fingers rub gently against his unshaven cheek before replying. A small, feeble smile spread across her kiss-swollen lips.
"Not for a second darlin'. Ah'm jus'..."
A forlorn look marred her brow as she let out a deep sigh. Wordlessly, Remy grasped one of her small hands in his and squeezed it. A concerned frown spread across his features as he spoke.
"What is it bebe?"
Rogue let another deep sigh out before her reply left her lips in no more than a whisper.
"Ah can'te keep up with the secrets anymore."
It wasn't the first time she admitted that. She had always been wary of keeping their relationship a secret from her team, her family. Over the year and a half they had been together, life had dealt her team many bad cards. Jean Grey had been taken by the Phoenix force and died trying to save the world from its wrath. Scott Summers had driven himself into a state of a machine-like existence ever since her death, caring only for the greater good of the X-Men and training their eventual replacements. Times had become more perilous for their kind in such a short space of time. Anti-Mutant activist groups fought for mutant registration and capture every day while the government dallied between giving them equal rights and locking them up and throwing away the key. It made matters only worse that Magneto rallied harder for his mutant cause with every blow the Government made. The ties between the Professor and Magneto had been severely strained and continued to be tested by the pull of time and action. If they revealed their relationship to either side, there was no telling what either would do.
A forlorn sigh much like her own heaved through his chest as he pulled her closer into his embrace. His fingers trailed circles into the small of her back as he replied.
"Y' t'ink its time t' tell y' family."
Her sigh tickled his chest as she laid her head under his chin. Her nails gently glided over his arm as she replied.
"Yes an' no. They won't understand this Remy...they'll...they'll freak out an' think its all a way of getting information from us. They'll try an' keep meh away from ya an'- and..."
She wiped away a silent tear as she paused a moment.
"Ah know that it'll kill meh if they do that. If they can'te accept ya..."
Remy's finger wiped away another tear before she could. His hands secured around her waist again as he pulled her closer into his embrace. Her body began to rumble with soundless sobs. It was a short while before her tears ceased and it was only then that Remy sought to move. He sat up in the sea of bed sheets that wrapped around them and pulled her with him. He made sure to lock her gaze within his as he trailed a hand down her cheek.
"What if we left?"
Her reaction didn't surprise him. Those emerald pools widened with shock which quickly turned to bemusement as she finally came to speak.
"W-what? Leave Bayville-? An' an' our teams?"
He nodded silent with a grave look set in stone across his face. His fingers idly began to twist a lock of her hair around his finger tips as he replied.
"Oui. If dey don't accept us...what we want..."
His fingers clasped her marriage finger as he spoke.
"I t'ink its about time dat we told dem chére. Dey need t' know about us."
His words caused her shoulders to slump as she turned away from his gaze. She raised a trembling hand to push away a lock of hair from her face, revealing a new pair of tears as they streaked down her pink-stained cheeks. On any other day he would've admired the look and wiped them away but this was serious. They needed to do this or their future couldn't go as planned. He didn't want to spend the rest of their lives married whilst living under separate roofs. Remy cupped her chin between his fingers and re-directed her gaze to meet his eyes.
"Dey love y' Rogue. I can't imagine dem sending moi away if it hurt y' so much. Dey'd only be hurting demselves jus' as bad if dey did."
Rogue's already glossy eyes glazed over with new tears before she pulled him into her arms. He kissed away her tears with the promise of reassurance and pulled her close as they fell back into the comfort of the bed. The rain thundered through the afternoon sky outside as they lingered in each other's embrace. Their problems could be left alone for the moment.
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Three days later...
It was after the second day of no calls or text messages that Remy became worried. Call him paranoid, call him needy, call him anything you dared, it didn't matter to him. After three weeks of being apart, he knew that she wouldn't avoid him like this. By the time the fourth day rolled by, he had called numerous times over, left more than enough messages in her inbox and finally decided that he had more than enough reason to check on her at the institute. Damning her anxieties about Wolverine catching him, he snuck into her room late one night. Though there was no sign that indicated she had up and left, she wasn't anywhere to be seen. Her bed lay untouched and neatly made, her desk scattered with various things like it always was while the residue smell of vanilla scented candles engulfed the room. Even his thieving skills couldn't pick up on anything out of the ordinary. Everything was as it always was in her room except for the fact that its usual occupant was no where to be seen.
Remy became almost fidgety with unease as he retraced his steps around the room. There were no notes hidden in their usual places. Whenever they planned to meet in her room and she suddenly had to cancel because of a mission, she would usually leave a note or a playing card in a crevice of her bookshelf to alert him to the change of plans. There were no such favours or tokens on this visit. The bookshelf stood bare save for its many books that cluttered its shelves. Remy's frustration was cut short however when the sudden noise of nearing footsteps caught his ears. Without a moment's hesitance, Remy slipped into the walk-in closet and disguised himself in the corner of one of the half-walls behind a thick, black coat. Light poured from the hallway as two figures stepped into the room. Remy caught one of the women's names immediately at the sounds of her voice. The other, a woman with a strong Boston accent, was a new voice to him. Emma and Kitty were in mid-conversation from what snippets he could catch.
"-she'll be alright, like, right Emma? I mean, she's never been the fainting kind... you- you don't think this could be serious do you?"
Remy's heart picked up the pace. There was only one obvious guess as to whom they were talking about, with that tone of voice and in Rogue's room no less. Remy watched from the shadows as Kitty pulled Rogue's pyjamas from underneath a pillow. Emma turned to the set of draws and began to pull out a few more essentials of track pants and long-sleaved shirts as she replied reassuringly.
"Don't worry Kitty, Doctor McCoy assured that she would be perfectly fine. I'm sure she's just over worked at the moment. Working hard with the new recruits lately must have caused this. You know, over stressed."
Remy felt the younger woman's emotions spiral between worry and new found assurance but barely acknowledged them as a fresh set of anxiety hit him hard and fast. Rogue had a fainting spell? He knew, from experience no less, that Rogue wasn't easy to take down let alone faint on account of overexertion.
"I hope you're right...she- ohmygosh,...I don't think I've ever seen Rogue like that before. Not even after that Apocalypse thing... She went like, totally pale faced- more than usual! And- and she just- just collapsed beside me! We didn't even start the training session!"
Despite the fear Kitty's description ignited in him, he couldn't help but feel a small sense of relief that Rogue hadn't been doing anything strenuous when she fainted. Now however, he needed to get down to the medical wing but how he was supposed to do that, he hadn't the slightest clue. He waited until the two X-women left before sneaking out of Rogue's balcony.
He traced the darkness of the night and avoided the moon light as he made his way across the grounds. Having looking over the blueprints of the institute countless times before, it was easy to make his way around and actually know where he was going. After disabling the security system (if he broke it, it was sure to cause alarm or suspicion) it was easy to get into the deeper sanctum of the institute. Finding the elevator was no problem, neither was finding the right door. With the majority of the building's occupants asleep or else where, the lights in most of the hallways were switched off, allowing him to sneak through undetected and unseen by the security cameras. When he finally found the medical wing he was beckoned by a single, dimmed light from one of the few windows. In hurried stealth, he followed it like a moth to a flame. Though he was careful to keep silent, his heart rate began to soar as sweat marked his brow. Anxiety crashed down on him harder with each step until he came to the door. Taking a deep breath, he grasped the handle and gently pushed it open.
He released a deep held breath but his relief was washed out by anxiety once again when those emerald, blood-shot pools turned to meet his.
There wasn't a doubt in his mind that she had been waiting for him. As he approached her, she sat up in the medical bed and reached out for him with a neediness that scared him. His arms enveloped her as she clung to him as if for dear life. They sat there for what felt like an age as he whispered every kind of assurance he could put to words. Though he had no idea what was troubling her so much, he kept his questions until her hold on him relaxed. He gently pulled back and cupped the side of her face in his hand as he spoke.
"I heard y' amis talking about y'. Dey said dat y' fainted b'fore a training session? What's all dat about chére?"
He felt her tremble in his arms as her heart began to pound between them. Her emotions were a turbulent storm. Anxiety turned to uncertainty, despair to joy. Her eyes flickered on the spot as she gradually raised her gaze to meet his. When she didn't speak, he urged her with a gesture of his eyes and the reassuring smooth of his hands. That didn't stop the anxiety from coursing through his own veins but at least it eased hers. Finally, she managed to rasp.
"Remy ah..."
She shook her head as a shaken sigh escaped her pale lips.
"Ah don't know how to- how t' tell ya this, ah really don't know..."
He quenched his own fears as he cupped her face between his hands and gently forced her to look at him. Gently, he whispered.
"Please amour, jus' tell moi. Whatever it is I need t' know et I need t' know now."
Another sigh escaped her lips but it was shortly followed by a nervous chuckle. Remy's brow furrowed with confusion. Rogue wasn't known for such a reaction. His confusion was forgotten however when she finally spoke up. Joy unlike any other he had ever seen or felt through another flashed across those glossy green eyes as she replied.
"Ah'm pregnant."
The crisp spring air waft through the window in a pleasant breeze. After days of rain and clouded sky, it was a wonderful change to see the sky so blue. The warmth of the sun caught her two-toned curls, turning them to gold and silver as she shifted her gaze over the city horizon. A gentle sigh came between her lips as Rogue leant back against the window frame. Remy's apartment- their apartment was unnoticeable in the mix of the city buildings of New York but inside it was as warm and welcoming as a picket-fence house in ol' Louisiana. The large glass windows exposed the room to the sun's caress while the warm cream drapes stood bathed in light. Rogue let her fingers trail lightly over the glass from where she sat on a windowsill bench. Remy didn't like it when she stood so close to the windows. Being raised thief since the ripe age of five had made him a little paranoid about being seen so openly. Nevertheless, she stole her chances when she could. Today was such a chance. A content sigh escaped her lips as she leant back into the embrace of the whitewood windowsill. Times had changed so quickly since she told Remy about the baby. Naturally, Remy had been overjoyed at the news. It still made her smile from time to time when she recalled his full reaction. After the shock had worn off and she explained that Hank had kindly (and discreetly) ran the tests only to find she was perfectly healthy and the baby was safe, his face had broken into the brightest smile imaginable. From then on it was just an on rush of Daddy-brained drabble that caused her to laugh and smile to herself. He was so excited about becoming a father and to be honest; it had come as a massive relief. She had grown anxious that he would not be happy about the news as there were a number of reasons to be unhappy about it. They were already planning to drop a bomb with the news of their engagement, throwing in an accidental pregnancy was like setting off a Nuclear bomb. A mushroom cloud would be visible from the institute grounds from miles away.
Rogue anxiously bit down on her lower lip. It was when her mind began to drift to the prospect of telling her family about Remy and the baby that she began to doubt whether telling them everything would be a good idea. She knew if she told one thing, she would have to tell the other. She could only hide the baby so long and if the X-Men, Logan especially, thought she was having a baby without even the prospect of getting married... Remy would be dead before she could begin to explain.
Rogue released her lower lip as a deep, forlorn sigh escaped but it was quick to turn to a yawn. She raised her hands above her head and tilted to one side, causing her spine to ripple audibly. As her body began to relax back into its previous position however, she felt a pair of familiar arms sneak around her waist and a bristled chin rest against her shoulder from behind. Warm hands began to trail circles into her flat stomach, causing a gentle smile spread across her lips. When she turned to face Remy, she found his red-on-black orbs caught the light, causing them to glow with warmth as he wordlessly picked her up so that he could sit in her place. He sat her back down into his lap and turned her head to capture her lips in a 'hello' kiss. When he was finished, they resumed a content silence and watched the horizon. A yawn stretched his mouth wide as he rested a hand possessively over her not-yet-swelled abdomen. He stroked it lovingly as he spoke.
"Y' been here long ma amour?"
She shook her head.
"Not too long. Things okay back at the base?"
He nodded onto the top of her head as he rested his chin there.
"M' free f' de rest o' de night. Y'?"
She smiled as she snuggled a little further into his arms.
"Free as bird darlin'."
"Bon."
With that, he picked her up and proceeded to carry her to their bedroom. He took more care than usual as he placed her down on the white sheets but that didn't stop her from roughly pulling him down with her and fastening her lips to his. A moment or two later, he was unfastening the buttons of his dress shirt that she had lazily clad herself in. He always had said that she looked better in his shirts than he did. Soon, they were both rid of their clothes and proceeded to take their time as he trailed his lips from her mouth, to her neck and below. His touch still managed to course fire over her skin no matter how many times they made love. Her fingers clung to his sweat-sleeked skin in a needy fashion as she sighed his name in euphoria. In turn, his fingers ran their own patterns over her flesh and from his mouth groans and sighs of her own name escaped. They wrote on the bed with fever and tenderness all twisted together, kissing and caressing each other's flesh to the point of being complete and overwhelmed. Remy made every effort to ensure her pleasure was satisfied but his own did not go un-wanting. That was an unsaid treasure Rogue carried than no other woman had. Women from his past had taken what he offered, never offering anything in return. With Rogue, she gave him love. She gave him everthing. He drank in her sighs of his name like running water and shivered involuntarily as her delicate hands brushed over his skin. Her kisses left him desperate for more as she whispered every assurance of love and devotion into his ears. The rhythm of her hips went in perfect time with his as she let him make love to her. A content smile spread across his lips as he lowered his head to kiss her forehead through those platinum white curtains. With her, he was home. He could lose his family, his friends and the trust of his Guild and all of it wouldn't matter at all. Because she was all that mattered. He watched as her kiss-swollen lips opened slightly to let out a low gasp of a moan, her eye-lids fluttered shut for a moment as her pleasure met its final peek. He kisses each eye-lid with a feather-soft brush of his lips before he let out a low moan of his own completion.
Spent, they collapsed into the gentle waves of white cotton, wrapped in each other's arms. Remy placed a gentle kiss to her abdomen before laying his weary head against her shoulder. Her delicate fingers trailed gently through his auburn hair as their hearts began to slow to a moderate pace.
After the long silence of afterglow faded, Remy lifted off of her and pulled her into the comfort of the pillows. He wrapped the bed sheets around them as he pulled her into his embrace. When sleep did not come however, Rogue took the moment to speak. Her voice was thick with exhaust as she whispered.
"Ya know ah love ya more than anythin', raght Remy?"
He tightened his hold around her as he kisses the back of her neck. A silent, rough sigh escaped Remy as he grazed his fingertips over the exposed flesh of her arm.
"'Course I do amour."
Though he could not see her face, he knew she was smiling that dreamy smile she always wore when she was tired and close to slumber. But as quickly as the smile appeared, it disappeared with the slight rise and fall of her chest. His warm breath tickled the nape of her neck as she replied softly with a disheartened sigh.
"We have t' tell 'em soon. It won't beh long b'fore ah start t' show."
A moment passed before a forlorn sigh blew through his lips. She felt him shift slightly as he pulled her by the waist to come a little closer to him. His tired, sleep-rusted voice murmured into her shoulder.
"I know."
Rogue closed her eyes. Her hand slapped lightly against the firm cotton of the bedspread as she sighed.
"They're not gonna beh happy about it...they're gonna take it the wrong way."
His own despondent sigh was quick to follow before he replied.
"We'll work somet'ing out chére. Dey may need some time non? I know it won't be easy mais dey have t' know."
She nodded mutely as she turned around in her place to face him. His eyes glowed in the late afternoon sunlight as she laced her fingers between his. It was moments like these that not even the most daunting of news could ruin. A gentle smile spread across her lips and he returned it similarly before the pull of sleep shut his eyes. She remained awake as the smile across her face became half-hearted and anxious once more.
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A week later...
Rogue let out a small sigh as she stepped out of the bathroom. The flushing toilet did nothing to ease her misery as the after-taste of that morning's breakfast mingled with her morning-sickness blues. Six weeks pregnant was no mile-stone but it certainly felt like one. She hadn't suffered morning sickness once until after Hank ran the first check up. Now she was sick after nearly every meal. A sickened frown marred her face as she pressed a gloved hand to her abdomen. Taking note of the empty hallway, she turned to her gaze to the offending belly and whispered.
"Ya plan on makin' this hard now do ya?"
Despite her mockery of sarcasm in her voice, a light smile played across her lips as she stroked her abdomen lovingly. However, she was forced to shift her hand to her side as the sound of quick footsteps interrupted her. She turned her head down the hallway only to catch a familiar sight. It was a rare occasion for Scott Summers to be out of uniform these days. Ever since Jean had died, he was nothing but training sessions and missions. Not even the Professor could get him to slow down. Upon spotting her, Scott came to a stop before her. His ruby-quartz shades did nothing to hide the stern look across his face as he spoke.
"Are you busy?"
Rogue gave a bemused frown.
"Uh- not raght now, why? Is somethin' wrong-?"
She barely voiced her concern before Fearless Leader cut her off in his vast reply.
"There's a mission I need you, Kitty, Emma, Logan and Sam to carry out this afternoon. There is a jewel- one of Apocalypse's that the Professor believes is being targeted by the Acolytes..."
As he began to go into the deeper details of the mission, Rogue felt her stomach do a terrified jolt as panic seeped in. She was going to meet Remy that afternoon for an early dinner at the apartment and going on a mission now was...well it was risky to say the least. Rogue made to interject Scott's re-count of the mission plan with the excuse that she has plans afterall however she was quick to realise that her excuse wasn't strong enough to convince Scott as his stern look rivaled one of Logan's. He folded his arms across his black-leather clad torso as he replied icily.
"I'm sorry Rogue, but with Storm's team in Japan and the Professor in Washington, I need all the numbers I can get. You'll have to cancel your plans."
"But-"
He was already telling her to be down in the jet hanger by five and walking down the corridor to scold a couple of students running around the halls. Her one-worded protest fell of deaf ears as he began to yell at the pair of boys causing the commotion. Rogue let out a deep breath as anxiety furrowed her brow. However her anxieties were put on hold when she thought of an idea.
"Only one man can get meh outta this..."
Her hopes were guttered as soon as she stepped into Hank's empty laboratory. She had hoped with Hank's perscription (and secret knowledge of her delicate condition) she might have had a ledgible way of getting out of the mission. A defeated sigh escaped her as she made her way towards the Doctor's cluttered looking desk. Multi-coloured post-its littered a note board on the above wall but Rogue knew that if Hank was away from the insititute or just the lab itself, he'd leave a post-it on his computer screen. Sure enough, a bright pink post-it read 'Gone to the city, shall return around 6pm.' A slightly frustrated sigh escaped her lips as she re-placed the post-it to the screen. With her first plan shot-through, she decided upon plan-B. Rogue pulled out her cellphone from her jeans pocket and dialed the familiar number. After several unanswered rings however, she tore it away from her ear with a frustrated growl.
'Damn it Remy!'
With both her counter-plans shot through, Rogue stomped her way back to her room to get ready. She could handle a simple mission against the Acolytes right? Besides, chances were, she would run into Remy. He'd be furious that she came but even so he would do everything in his power to keep her safe on the battlefield; just like always.
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Meanwhile...
Remy let out a frustrated sigh as he finished buckling up his metal-plated boots. It was really just not his day. First he had been stuck all morning training Acolyte-wannabes (or 'babysitting' as he called it) and now he was to help supervise a couple of new recruits in their first mission. Thankfully, he wasn't going to be alone. Piotr and Sabretooth had been rigged into the excursion to ensure that if the new recruits failed, they would at least get the job done. It wasn't how Remy would choose to go about the job. He was thief, of course he would know better than to send a bunch of inexperienced teenagers and a feral Cat to steal a jewel. If he could have his way, he would've gone after the jewel himself and be back within the hour. He wouldn't have to cancel dinner with his fiancée. But Magneto was the boss and whatever he said simply went. The fact that he would have to cancel a perfectly care-free evening with his fiancée wasn't an excuse he was likely to use anyway. On that thought, Remy reach for his cell phone. He was barely beginning to type a text when his trained ears caught heavy footsteps outside. Remy slipped the silver cell phone into one of his many pockets as Victor Creed entered the locker room. Looking just as feral as ever, he snarled grumpily.
"We're ready to leave Runt. Magneto wants us at the Museum before the X-Men start pokin' their noses in."
Remy felt the silent phone vibrate against his hip-bone as Creed spoke. Thankfully however, while he remained cool and un-moving, Victor took no heed of the disturbance. He merely grunted a short growl and stepped out of the room. Once Victor's heavy footsteps fell on deaf ears, Remy pulled the phone out of his pocket and slid it open. Rogue's name- "Ma amour" appeared across the black screen. He replied her missed call with a quick text saying he wouldn't make it and not to wait up for him.
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"I, like, so don't see why we have to stand around like this. Can't we, like, just take it back to the institute and keep it safe there?"
Rogue droned out Kitty's complaints as she continued to pace her position behind the glass case. The jewel, a cluster of gold, rounded cubes and blue sapphires, was a sight to behold. Frankly however, Rogue couldn't agree more with Kitty's plan but seeing as Scott was insistant on remaining here with the necklace, it seemed the mission wasn't to guard it, but to fight for it. Rogue only hoped that she could keep from being a key-player in the battle without being a casualty to her team.
"Oh do be quiet Shadowcat, it's difficult enough trying to pick up life-forms in diamond form as it is. I don't need your whinning to accompany it."
Rogue gave an amused smirk as Kitty and Emma stared daggers at each other. Emma Frost had been a precarious addition to the team, what with her former allegiances being tied in with the infamous Hellfire Club some years ago. And though she and Kitty were constantly at disgreement for one reason or another, she had proven herself to be a valueable team member. Rogue had to admit that despite her clashes with Kitty, she wasn't half bad when she wanted to be.
"Rogue, Emma, can you do a sweep of the perimeter?"
With Fearless Leader's orders, the two women stepped out of the grand oak doors of the room and began to check the outter rooms of the third floor. The Museum was a building of grand stature, like all other Museums, thus had its own secrets and shadows that were ideal for enemies to hide in. Even with a telepath, there was a chance that the Acolytes could get in unnoticed until they wanted to be noticed. Thus the double-checks that Scott had them take every hour.
Once out of ear shot, the two women fell into a comfortable silence. However it was short lived.
"I must say, I'm surprised you're even here Rogue dear."
Rogue stopped abruptly. Her brow furrowed with confusion.
"Excuse meh?"
Emma pretended to scrutinize her perfected french-tip nails as she replied in an all too casual and cool tone of voice.
"Well, being in your condition I would have thought you would opt out of a mission like this."
Emma had the odd satisfaction of watching as the Southern Spitfire's mouth fell open in shocked disbelief. She remained that way a few more moments before she was able to close her mouth again. After gulping some air, she managed a reply.
"How- how long have ya known?"
"About you're bun in the oven or the fact you've got a devilish Acolyte for a fiancée?"
Rogue's mouth hung open a moment before she gulped another silent breath of air. Meekly, she replied.
"Both ah guess."
Emma shrugged in an all too casual manner as they continued on their sweep of the long corridor.
"Oh a little while I suppose. You were projecting some...tell-tale dreams a couple of weeks ago. It was hard not to notice and piece a few things together. I must ask though, when is it do plan on officially telling the rest of us about your secret life?"
Rogue felt a world of relief and pressure come over her at once as she let out a sigh and a shrug.
"Honestly, ah'm not-"
Her answer was cut short by the muffled sound of explosions coming from behind the doors they had come through. Both women turned in time to watch as one of the tall, heavy oak doors was blasted off its hinges only to land with a slam against the marble floor. White smoke and the dulled flash of optic blasts and blazes of fire could be seen through the half-open doorway. The floor rumbled beneath them, causing both women to lose their footing. Emma was helping Rogue to her feet again when Emma's communicator yelled Scott's voice.
"Emma! Rogue! We need you back here NOW! –zrk-"
Rogue and Emma gave similar, wary looks towards each other before they began to jog towards the doors. They continued their unspoken conversation through telepathy as Emma took on a diamond form. (1)
"Are you sure you should be coming? It's not going to be a tidey game of chess in there-"
"Ah'll keep to the sidelines if ya'll can keep meh outta the battle."
"Very well then. Keep by me and I'll try and keep you both safe."
Rogue gave a thankful smile and a nod to the White Queen's uncharacteristic act of kindness before they slipped into the room and into the battlefield. The grand room resembled a wasteland of rubble and smoke. At least a half a dozen Acolytes- new Acolytes were scattered across the grand room as they held their own against the X-Men. From a distance, Rogue could see that Kitty was now in possession of the jewelled necklace and was currently dodging laser blasts from a lithe looking woman. The rest of the team was scattered, fighting off their uneven numbers with brute strength and claws. Rogue and Emma's entrance did not go unnoticed for long as a young male Acolyte appeared before them. He raised an unclenched hand before him in a tell-tale sign of telekinesis but Emma was evidently already prepared. With a litheness her shiny, diamond form did not show, she jumped and landed a direct kick to his hand. It posed enough distraction so Rogue could come up behind him and touch his cheek with an un-sheathed hand. He fell to the ground with a pained groan as Rogue took a step back. Emma's diamond, colourless eyes shone with concern as she wavered slightly on the spot. Telepathically she replied.
"Are you sure using your powers in your condition-"
"Ah'm pregnant Emma. Not disabled."
Emma gave an amused smile before they set off to get to Kitty. Rogue kept to the sidelines and let Emma handle any up-coming threats as they made their way across rubble and debris. Unbeknownst to them, a pair of red-on-black eyes watched from the shadows near the doorway. His eyes pulsed with anxiety and disbelief.
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Remy couldn't believe his eyes when he first saw her. His eyes had widened considerably when she appeared through the smoke with that Frost woman close beside her. When she had taken out that new recruit he had just about had a heart-attack. His anxieties soon turned to anger as he made his way stealthily towards her. She was in no condition to be on a mission let alone one with a battle in its midsts. He chose his timing carefully as the two women came to a wall that had been rendered to a hill of rubble and metal. He swiftly wrapped a hand around her wrist and pulled her behind a large piece of wall. He turned her around to face him as he spoke.
"Chére what are y' doing here? Are y' crazy? Dis ain't no place f' y' now-"
His voice was thick with disapproval but somehow the worry he posessed managed to stream just a strong. Rogue made an apologetic face, a rare occasion indeed, as she replied.
"Ah didn't have a choice! Besides, ah didn't think it would get this crazy- Ah-"
She was cut off when the floor beneath them began to tremble and them along with it. Above, the ceiling cracked and a few heavy shards fell just over their heads. They would've hit them both had Remy not skillfully pushed them out of harm's way. The heavy plastering and rubble fell not three feet away from where they lay on the floor. Dusting themselves off, Remy pulled them both to their feet only to wisk her away to a more secluded spot in the debris and away from the fighting. His hands trembled slightly as he enveloped them around her gloved hands. Her engagement ring nudged his fingertip from beneath the fabric as he spoke.
"Y' have t' stay out o' de fighting Rogue. I want y' t' find a safe place et stay dere until its over. D'accord?"
Though she opened her mouth to begin a protest, Remy raised a finger and pressed it against her lips. Silenced, she let out a defeated sigh and nodded in agreement. A ghost of a smile spread across his lips before he pulled her close and pressed it against her lips in a kiss.
"Soyez sûr de mon amour." (Be safe my love)
"Be careful Remy."
He kissed her briefly, one last time.
"Toujours." (Always)
Though he was reluctant to do so, he let her go and with one final glance, he stepped back into the battle. Rogue watched him from the sidelines for what felt like a lifetime but was in fact only a couple of minutes before a new familiar face appeared quite literally from the rubble. Kitty's head was followed swiftly by her body as she phased through the debris to stand at her side. Dirt and a bit of dry blood smudged her face as she approached her, the jewelled necklace laced between her fingers.
"Ro-Rogue you- you have to get this to the Institute! Scott ordered it- You have to get it to safety. If, like, they get it- Mag-"
Rogue saw the opportunity like a ray of light from above. If she could sneak away unnoticed with the necklace and return to the institute, she and the baby would be out of the crossfire. She cut Kitty in her babblings as she whispered roughly.
"Don't worry 'bout explainations Kitty, ah'll get it back to the institute, you gonna beh okay here?"
Kitty nodded and without further ado, she handed her the necklace and phased through the opposite wall and back into the fight. Rogue carefully made her way around the boundaries of the broken room towards the main exit. Unfortunately however, her leave did not go unnoticed.
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Remy had just about had enough of this. He had seen the chaton (Kitten) take off with the necklace not two minutes ago and not one of the new recruits (or what was left of them) had taken notice. He had just given Scott Summers a few hands of cards when he caught sight of Kitty from the corner of his eye. He watched as she disappeared through the mountain of rubble only to appear not thirty seconds later with- Remy's face loosened to a blank look. Anxiety pulsed through his veins as he watched Rogue- with the necklace in hand- make a run for the main doorway...and the bulky figure of a new recruit, Demolition, following not ten feet behind.
Remy made to follow in hot persuit but was almost literally cut short by a familiar set of claws. He barely had the chance to jump out of the way as Wolverine made another clawed swipe for his head. The stocky man growled dangerously as they both took defensive stances. On another occasion, Remy would've taken up his offer but right now his Rogue needed him and there wasn't time for theatricals. He lowered his extended bow-staff half way to ease a sense of good-will as he spoke.
"I don't want t' fight wit' y' Wolverine. Dere be more important t'ings t' attend to."
Wolverine sneared and growled his response.
"What are you yappin' about Gumbo?"
"Rogue be in danger mon ami. Dat homme- Demolition. He followed her out into de hallway. Y' need t' get t' her b'fore he does-"
"What makes you think I'll believe that?"
Remy was never a man to beg but desperate times called for desperate measures. With a power only his unusual eyes could muster, he gave the best sincere, pleading look.
"I'm beggin' y' homme. Jus' help moi save dem."
That did it. Logan's scowl fell off to a blank look of shock but it was swiftly contorted with suspicion.
"Them-?"
It was then, without much need for explaination or words that the two men came to a mutual agreement. They just didn't know it at the time. Without anything else to say, the two men ran into action. They followed the broken trail to the doorway and followed the route of the hallway, as they turned the next bend however, a new sight appeared before them. Demolition stood with his back turned and his hands raised towards the sky. Across the long entrance hall stood Rogue with her back to the wall. Both men watched with silent horror as the floor began to rumble beneath their feet, becoming increasingly louder and unstable with each passing second. It was when the floor began to crack under their feet that they realised what was happening. Both turned in time to watch as Rogue clung to the wall for dear life. The floor beneath her feet crumbled until she was standing on a feeble ledge of marble and metal. Remy cried out to her at the top of his lungs as the floor continued to cave into itself. He tried to make a run for it but Logan's arms kept him in place as he locked him in a determined hold. He struggled and screamed for her to no avail. Smoke and dust took to the air but it didn't clutter his vision as he watched in horror as Rogue fell from the crumbling ledge. The rest of the floor was quick to follow as it crumbled to the second floor.
A unsettling silence broke over the remains of the museum's third level. Dust rose into the air in puffs of smoke as sparks erupted from torn wires in the walls. The silence was brought to an abrupt end when a man's devestated cry echoed through the halls. A single name burst from his lips and continued to again and again as he climbed down the hillside of stone and metal debris. He took no notice of his teammates or the X-Men as they watched and followed at a shell-shocked pace. Only Logan ran at the same pace as the Cajun as he stumbled over the wreckage.
"ROGUE! Rogue, -answer me! Chére please, jus'- jus' wait, jus' wait I get y' out!"
He pulled away large chunks of stone as he dug into the debris with a fierceness only a desperate man could manage. Jagged edges cut at his hands and shreaded his gloves but he didn't care. Hot tears streamed down his defined cheeks as he continued to dig and yell her name as he went. Logan and the others wordlessly began to help. It went on for what felt like a lifetime but was scarcely over a several minutes, all of which found nothing but Remy didn't stop. He couldn't. He wouldn't stop until she was safe and sound in his arms. He was in the middle of what must have been the hundreth attempt when he felt a rough hand rest firmly against his shoulder. A familiar but strangely tender voice spoke from behind.
"Wait a minute bub."
Enraged by the very idea, Remy's efforts doubled as he continued to dig but he was stopped again. This time it was by the rough tug of his trench coat collar. Logan shushed him roughly and shushed all of them to be quiet as he glare over the mountain of rubble. After a few moments of stilled silence, Logan let go of Remy's collar and climbed further up the mountain's marred face. He knelt down for a moment only to yell for Gambit to come quickly as he began to tear through the rubble with his bare hands. Remy and Logan dug like their very lives depended on it. The hole grew deeper with each second until finally, they struck gold. A delicate, gloved hand peeked out from the debris. Remy cried out her name as he pushed away the rubble from her unmoving hand. Not quick enough, the two men pulled her unmoving body from the deep and into Remy's shaking lap. For a while, he just sat there rocking her in his arms as he cried. Tears soaked his face as he sobbed her name. The X-Men could do nothing but stare as their enemy pulled their beloved team mate into a heart-breaking embrace.
Remy cupped the side of her face with a trembling hand as he begged for her to wake.
"P-please ma amour- don't- don't y' leave moi like dis- Don't go where I can't follow- si vous plait ma coeur, ma vie. Je n'ai rien si je n'ai pas de vous..." (please my love, my life. I don't have anything if I don't have you)
He tentively brushed the dirty white strands from her un-waking eyes. A sob trembled through his throat as he continued to rock her in his arms, tears clouded his vision while the will to live practically drained from him like blood from a wound. As his own defeat neared, he leant forward to rest his forehead against hers.
But then he heard it.
That ever so slight sound that escaped her pale, bruised lips.
Almost hesitantly, he raised his head only to watch with re-newed life as her eyes fluttered on the spot. A moment later, she began to take short breaths of air and a pained moan escaped her lips. The world seemed brighter for one glorious moment when her eyes slowly opened, revealing those bright emerald eyes that caught his like a moth to a flame. A full blown smile of relief and love spread across his lips. With trembling fingers, he stroked the side of her face.
"Y' wouldn't dare leave moi behind like dat now would y' ma belle?"
Her brow furrowed with confusion and un-spoken pain. Rogue opened her mouth to say something but only pained rasps of air managed to take form. Remy hushed her gently as he felt the others move around them in haste. He pressed his lips to her forehead briefly before replying.
"Y' jus' stay awake chére. We get y' t' Hank d'accord?"
Again, Rogue tried to voice something but this time all it did was render her to choked sobs. Tears swelled in her eyes as she reached out for his hand with her trembling one. He watched with growing worry as she took his hand and shifted it away from her face...to land on her abdomen. His eyes followed her directions only to come upon a hope-quenching sight.
Even with the black material of her uniform, he could still recognise the stain of blood. Her blood.
Hours turned to lifetimes as the night turned to the early hours of day. However the sun's touch could not reach the depths of the medical bay in the underground of the Institute or its occupants. They remained in the neon-light as they waited outside the closed medical room. A cold silence had grown, one that would better fit a cemetary than a group of anxious family and friends. Most of the few who sat rooted to the ground sat in silence while they watched Logan pace the hallway with an unnaturally gentle stride. The silence was suddenly brought to a pause when a small, soprano voice spoke up.
"Is Rogue going to be okay Stormy?"
A little boy, one of the few younger students of the institute, looked up at the chocolate skinned woman's face with glossy yellow eyes. The Weather Witch barely had the strength to tell him that she would be alright as new tears streamed down and washed away her feeble smile.
In the medical room, a similar silence passed between its two occupants. While one was induced by sleep, the other was induced by a silent mourning that tore slowly at his heart. Abscentmindedly, Remy stroked the back of his lover's hand as she slept on in her drug-induced slumber. She had been patched and cleaned up, sedated and clothed in a flimsy medical dress but there were cuts and bruises that ran deeper than mere flesh. Remy let out a shaky sigh as he stared intently at her face. Cuts and bruises blemished her pale flesh but even so, she was the most beautiful thing in the room. A forlorn smile spread across his lips as he raised her hand and kissed it tenderly. He couldn't bring himself away from her, not to get cleaned up, not to get some rest and certainly not to answer any of the X-Men's pending questions.
They could wait.
They could all wait.
"Remy?"
He barely tilted his head towards the Doctor in the doorway.
"Might I have a word in my office?"
After a moment or two, Remy nodded and stiffly stood from the chair beside the bed. He stopped only to press a kiss to his fiancée's forehead before following the doctor into the next room. As soon as the door shut closed behind them, Remy spoke. His voice was still rough from overuse.
"Is it- Will she...?"
He could barely put the words to form even in his own head. He knew what the damage was but the need to ask was still there. Remy let out a deep sigh as he ran an exhausted hand over his face. Hank gave a sympathetic sigh as he reached out to rest a comforting hand on the young man's shoulder.
"I am truly sorry my friend. I wish there was something more I could do but-"
Remy raised a hand to silence him, followed shortly by his glossy red-on-black gaze. He wiped away new tears as he replied painfully in a voice no louder than a whisper.
"Y' did what y' could Hank. I can't t'ank y' enough f' dat."
Hank's heart practically shattered at the honest sincerity in those red-on-black pools. Hank squeezed Remy's shoulder firmly as he replied gently.
"She will recover Remy but it will take time...it will take time for both of you to heal again."
Remy nodded mutely and offered a feeble smile but it was barely able to be called that. Unable to say anything more, Remy turned to leave but was caught by Hank's voice a second time.
"You two have a whole life ahead of you my young friend. There...there will be time for more children."
Though Hank's words meant to inspire hope, they only dragged Remy further into certain despair. He said nothing as he stepped back into the other room...to find a pair of glossy emerald eyes watching him from across the room. After what felt like an eternity of staring, a frail, bandaged hand lifted from the bed and she reached out for him. He was at her side within an instant. He held her outstretch hand between his as he leant forward to kissed her forehead as new, choked sobs trembled through her frail body. He murmured every kind of assurance of love and comfort in both French and English as she feebly clung to him and continued to sob into his chest.
Hours later, Remy woke to find Rogue asleep in his arms. A single tear trailed down her cheek even in her slumber. As he wiped it away and kissed the side of her head, he whispered softly.
"We'll be okay chére. I promise, we will..."
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Epilogue
The summer breeze blew at a gentle pace and rustled through the green tree tops with an almost tender nature. Below one such oak tree, a couple lay tangled in each other's embrace. The man's tanned, long arms wrapped securely around his wife's small waist while his chin rested ontop of her head. As they lounged across the checkered picnic rug, their gazes followed the two small figures that played in the playground not too far away. The little boys sat in the sand with a pair of brightly coloured trucks in their hands as they made car noises of their own. Their imaginations took flight in the little sand dunes and toy trucks as their parents watched from afar. Their high-pitched laughter caught the air in quick bouts until the younger of the two picked a handful of sand and with a gleeful giggle threw it over his brother's head. The eldest brother coughed and spluttered as the sand got in his mouth and itched in his auburn hair. A high-pitched shriek escaped his lips before he began to berate his little brother in bouts of French and English. However his scolding was put to a stop when his father's warning voice called from across the park.
"Olivier James LeBeau, do y' want Pére t' come over dere?"
The four year-old was instantly silenced for a moment before he called back in a tell-tale tone.
"Mais Jacques put sand on m' head!"
"Den y' come et tell Pére or Maman d'accord ? Y' don't go yellin' at y' petite frère Ollie."
The exuberant natured boy was quick to lose his guilty expression and gain a bright smile as he called back loudly.
"Okay Pére! Je suis desole! Ah stop now!" (I am sorry!)
Remy gave a reassuring smile towards his eldest son but it was interrupted by a familiar, soft chuckle from below him. Looking down, he gave his wife a bemused smile.
"Quoi?" (what?)
Rogue merely chuckled again as she stared up at him with bright eyes and a light smile. Even after four years of parenthood, the looks he made when he was scolding or praising their children still managed to amuse her to no end. A mockery of a stern look spread across his features as he caught wind of her mood.
"Now what seems t' be so amusing t' y' hmm?"
"Nothin' darlin'. Jus' watchin' ya at work is all."
A third light chuckle escaped her lips as his mouth came down on hers in a gentle kiss. After a particularly long moment of kissing, they returned their gazes to the two exuberant boys playing in the sand box. A gentle silence encased them for a few minutes before Remy spoke up. His voice rumbled down her spine in a pleasant manner, just as it always had as he spoke.
"Chére?"
"Hmm?" She answered softly.
A concerned look spread across Remy's face. After nearly seven years of marriage, he had come to memorise every kind of answer she was capable of making. Each one spoke a different tone and only he could read them. It was as if they shared a secret language, a dialect only they could understand. He hesitated before answering in a careful whisper.
"Y' know what day it is oui?"
Though he could not see it, he could practically feel the shine in her eyes falter slightly as she continued to watch their boys. Olivier had begun an assault of tickles on his little brother and their laughter rang clear like the sweetest water throughout the otherwise empty playground. A saddened sigh escaped Rogue as she watched them. No matter how many years passed, she couldn't help but imagine a third child playing amongst her two boys. A vision of auburn hair and red-on-black eyes (or green, somedays) would dance across her dreams and across her waking eyes from time to time, but when she woke or blinked again, it was gone. She often scolded herself for having such dreams. Today however, she couldn't help but allow such a temptation. It was the seventh anniversary of the day they lost their first child. Though she had barely carried the child two months, losing that child had been just as harsh and devestating as if they had lost it at full term. What had started as a way to distract themselves from their loss had become a day of rememberance. Every year on this day they would go somewhere quiet and bring their boys along with them. But even the sweetest distraction could not sway the loss completely from their minds.
A small smile graced Rogue's lips as she watched Jacques hand Olivier a blue truck in offering. His bright green eyes shone with unguarded love and trust that only a child could muster and it brought an abundance of warmth to her heart. Her boys were the light in her life and most of the time she could burry her grief with the smiling faces of her two angels. Speaking of which, Olivier had just taken the blue truck from his brother when Jacques reached for his unguarded yellow one. Posessively, Ollie dropped the blue one and stole back the yellow one. His red-on-black eyes glowed slightly as he glared at his little brother. Though his eyes mirrored his father's in colour and shape, they were far too adorable to be as intimidating. Well, at least not yet. A soft chuckle hummed through Rogue's chest as she watched Jacques offer the blue truck once more.
Remy was set at ease as he grazed a thumb over Rogue's bare hand. He shifted and planted a gentle kiss on her cheek and wiped away the last of her silent tears before turning back to watch their boys.
Life was finally at ease.
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The END
Rather bitter-sweet I know but I've been dying to write something like this. REVIEW!
I've edited as many mistakes as I could find!
-Gams
I know Emma Frost, in the comics, can't use her telepathy when she's in diamond form but I thought that was kinda lame so I left it out.