Memories2

Part 2

Author: SisterWine
Rating: G, PG
Summary: This is just a little snip of how I think if R&R had a child, and was left in Logan's care, sometime in the future. (Rhythm is MINE!!)
Disclaimer: Not mine, no money exchanged, no harm intended. I don't sell stories.

She had been sleeping for two hours, small body spread out in the queen-sized bed. Laying on her left side, she stared at the window. Managing to have scooted to the other side of the bed, she had dumped her teddy on the floor and tossed the covers off long ago. The door creaked as it slowly opened, and someone stepped into the room. Sitting up and turning to face the person, she blinked and asked, "My poppa here, yet?"

"No, sweety." Storm sat down on the corner of the bed, lady-style. "Did you have a good nap?" She looked at the little girl and could clearly see both of Remy and Rogue's features in her. A small, thin face with a sharp jawline and round cheeks. Thin, pink lips outlined a small mouth, under a petite child's nose, and eyes that could look right through to a person's very soul.

Rhythm nodded and turned to her left to search for the bear she had tossed during her nap. She leaned over the side of the bed and reached her right arm down to pick him up. The bear sat beside the bed, on a leaf of the white topsheet that had been yanked that direction from her moving about. Soft, brown fur ran over the small toy. It sat, permanently, and it's arms were open as if to accept a hug. The fur had hidden
a small thin blue ribbon, tied in a bow, around it's neck. The same teddybear her father had given her at Christmas 2 years prior. When she sat back up, Storm was holding her barette in her hand and asking to fix her hair. Reaching back to find that her hair had come out of the ponytail, she nodded. "My comb s'in de pack." Her teddybear in her right hand, she began crawling to the end of the bed and sat down to
swing her bare feet over the end and slide off.

Storm turned to watch as the little girl ran over to the chair and opened a small pocket on the front of the pack and pull out a black comb and ran back to the woman. Now staring at the back of the little girl's head, she took the comb and brush the long black hair before replacing the ponytail to it's location, just high enough so that it was off of the girl's neck. Clipping the barette, she was asked a question.

"Ya have.... babies, chere?" Rhythm hadn't figured how to say the sentence more appropriately, so she placed what word she knew.

Storm paused and smiled before she answered. "No, I don't." She paused. "But, we have alot of kids here for you to play with."

"Oh."

"Are you hungry? Lunch?" Storm asked as the child turned around and took the comb from the bed.

Holding the comb close to her and reaching a hand up to the ponytail, she nodded. "Oui." She turned on her heel and ran back to the pack to slip the comb back into the pocket. Turning again, she took the outstretched hand and skipped out of the room and down the corridor. "Where Logan, chere?"

"He's downstairs. I'll bet he's hungry, too." Storm answered, softly, as they stepped down the stairs.

Step. Pause. Step. Pause. Step. Pause. Step. Rhythm wasn't sure about going down the stairs like Storm did. One foot at a time was how she had felt comfortable after taking the stairs at home a bit too fast, and falling down the remaining seven.

Storm hadn't minded that the girl was going slow. She even offered to carry her the rest of the way
down, but was told no by the out of breath child. As they reached the bottom, the girl had missed the last step and swung around to slam into Storm's legs, causing Storm to stop and hold up the little hand she held, and wait for Rhythm to get her feet flat on the floor. "You okay?"

"Yea." The reply was short and breathy as she panted.

As the two of them walked into the kitchen, Rhythm was placed on a high stool at the counter-island, and asked what she was hungry for. "Sammich." She chirped.

"What kind of a sandwich? Peanutbutter and jam? Or, ham and cheese?" Storm stood with her hand on
the fridge doorhandle and looked from the girl to Logan as he had entered the room. Looking back to the child, she smiled as Logan had sat to the right of the little girl.

"Pea-nu'bu-dd-er an' jam, please." Rhythm seemed to have trouble saying big words, and took her time sounding them out as she said them. She was so polite that Storm was taken aback at this child being Remy and Rogue's.

"Strawberry, or Grape?" Storm had taken out the bread from the fridge and asked one more question.

"Grape, please." Rhythm answered, trying to sound grown up. Turning her head to look at the man sitting beside her, she smiled and patted his left hand as it rested on the counter.

Logan smiled back and watched Storm turn around to fix the sandwich, her back to them. "Did you have a good sleep, kiddo?" He looked back to the little girl and noticed her hair had been redone into the ponytail.

"Oui." She nodded, sharply.

"You slept quite awhile, darlin." He paused and patted her head. "You needed that nap, huh?"

Again, Rhythm nodded. "Yea." She paused. "Where de ki's, Logan?"

Logan was about to answer her when he was distracted by Scott and Jean walking into the room. He nodded to Jean and mumbled a hello to Scott. He looked back to the child to see her now staring at Scott and inching towards Logan.

Scott nodded a glance towards the little girl beside Wolverine. "Who's this? Picking them kinda young, Logan?" His ruby shades and smart remark offset his cleancut image. He was dressed in old blue jeans
and a white T-shirt, and somewhat resembled Remy. Scott leaned against the counter beside where Storm was finishing making the sandwich, and crossed his arms in front of his chest. He watched as Storm put the sandwich on a paper plate and turned around to hand the plate to the little girl. "She yours, Logan?"

"Nope." Logan shot him a glare and went back to watching the small girl beside him.

Jean walked around, from getting a soda from the fridge, to stand behind Rhythm and Logan. "This," Putting a hand on the tiny shoulder. "is Gambit and Rogue's daughter, Rhythm. She will be staying with us for a few days. Behave, Scott." Giving Scott a cold glare as he had raised an eyebrow at the child's appearance, she patted the shoulder and leaned over to whisper into a tiny ear, "Ignore him, sweety. You go ahead and eat your lunch."

Doubt overwhelmed him and he couldn't stop his mouth from spitting the mean words out, aloud. "I can't believe this is the daughter of that obnoxious Cajun. The hair colour is too wrong for that, and the eyes
are another story. I can see Rogue, there, but.... not Gambit. He's too wild with his women." He hushed when he found all eyes on him, and felt even worse as the tiny girl set down her sandwich and leaned
over to wriggle under Logan's arm and cry into his chest.

Logan pulled her onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her as she cried. "Back off the kid, Summers. She's five, not someone who can squawk back at ya!"

Through a sob and into Logan's tear-dampened shirt, Rhythm yelled, "Je veux mon poppa!" She hadn't stopped crying as Logan pushed her gingerly away to look at her, and dry her eyes. Her face was red and soaked with tears. She had cried so hard and screamed so loud that she was out of breath and coughed, choking on her sobs. Shaking and rubbing her eyes with the back of her hands, Rhythm buried her face back into Logan's chest and refused to turn back to her sandwich.

Catching a mean glare from Logan, Scott thought it best to leave the room and busy himself with other chores. The look of hurt had stabbed at him and he couldn't help but think that the little girl was really LeBeau's daughter. But, why hadn't either parent's informed anyone, other than Logan, of their child's arrival? And, why did she have different features than either one of them?



Getting the child to stop crying and finish her lunch had proven a task, even for Logan. They had managed, though. Storm had fixed her another sandwich, as she finished the first and was still hungry, and cut it to look like 4 small triangles, and Jean had given her a glass of milk to drink.

When she finished, grape jam had smeared itself, as well as the peanutbutter, across her face. She licked her fingers and played with the clump of thick, creamy peanutbutter in her mouth as Storm wiped the little face with a wet papertowel. She held the glass of milk in both hands and squirmed around the papertowel to get a drink.

Taking a big gulp and swallowing it bit by bit, she reached to put the glass on the counter and looked over to smile at Logan, from her spot on her own stool, again.

"Was it good?" He asked as Storm had finished wiping her face and went to put the towel in the garbage can. When she nodded her reply, he took the plate and the glass in hand as got off of his stool. "Want more? Or, are you full?"

"Non, t'ank you. We see de ki's, now, Logan?" She asked, becoming more chipper.

Logan smiled and made his way to the sink. "Yea, darlin. Now, we can go find the kids." He paused and set the glass in the sink before throwing the plate away. "You need your sandals on, though." He turned back to her and nodded to her feet that swung, impatiently, in front of her.

Rhythm nodded and reached her arms out to Jean, who had come to help her get down. Wrapping her arms about Jean's neck and letting her carry the girl back up the stairs to Logan's room, she thanked Storm for the sandwich and waved 'bye' to her.

"You're welcome, hon." Storm waved back with a soft smile. Before turning back to the sink for dishes, she noted Logan watching Jean carry Rhythm out of the room. "So, how is it that she has black hair, unlike her parents? And, those eyes!?" Leaning against the sink, and folding her arms, she stared aat Logan, inquisitively.

Logan sighed and thought of a suitable way to explain the situation to her. "When the kids split up-- six months ago-- Little Bit was goin hysterical, an' the best way I can think of, is that Rogue's absorbtion was passed to her. And, she was devistated, Ro. Anyway," He paused for another sigh and a quick glance away from the woman's eyes. "a spark of that power lit up like wildfire and her hair turned my colour when I picked her up." It was his turn to lean on the counter, beside the white haired woman. "I couldn't tell ya 'bout the eyes. They been that way since she first opened them."

Storm smiled and pushed off of the counter. "She certainly has taken to you, Logan. What a brave little girl she is." She joked but noticed that he was nodding and smiling in response.

"Yea. She's my 'Little Bit'. Follows both the Cajun and me around like a shadow. But, she's a good kid. Remy taught her some good manners, and she follows them to the letter." He smiled as he said his statement. Logan was so proud of how well she had acted since Rogue moved out, and Remy left to chase after her. It had been a little rocky, during the three week absense of both parents, but Rhythm showed her father's calm and grace while it mixed with her mother's positivity.

"So I see." Storm had begun to rinse out and scrub the glass Rhythm had been using, while talking and listening to Logan. "So, they are divorcing? So soon?" Not turning back from her chore, she asked over her shoulder to him.

Logan chewed his lower lip a moment. "Yea. He went after her to reason with her, and I was opted to watch the kid."

Ororo stopped and set the clean glass down on a white and blue striped towel that was spread out flat, beside the sink, to dry. "What does Rhythm think of this?" She knew he was dreading having to answer that question, but she asked anyway. Turning back to face him, she could understand why his expression had gone sullen.

"She has nightmares. Wakes up in the night and cries the same thing, everytime. 'Vous aimez moi.' Last night's was especially bad. She dreamt he was attacked by monsters, and that they were comin after her, next. Scared the devil outta me. Had to clean her up and gave her my shirt to sleep in." He sighed and looked at the floor. "She's just a kid and already, she don't sleep. We leave her door open, give her
nitelites, take turns sleepin on her floor. Nothing works."



When Jean and Rhythm came back, they were ready to go outside. Jean had let her run ahead, so her sandals clicked on the floor. She ran up to Logan but stopped as she found he and Storm, standing together. She smiled and spun around to show Logan she was ready to go outside. Her dress twirled and hooped out from the speed.

"You look so pretty in that dress." Storm smiled and took her hand to lead her to the back door. "Let's see, I think some of the kids are on the courts."

"'Kay." Nodding to the woman, she looked back and reached for Logan, with her free hand. "'Mon, Logan." Big eyes stared at him from over her shoulder as she had started walking with Storm, to the door. Her shoes tapped on the tiles, and her hair swayed with each step.

Logan glanced to Jean before answering. "Be there in a minute, darlin. Go have fun."

"'Kay."

He waited until she had left the room before asking Jean what the status was with finding Remy. He knew the results would be less than exciting to the child, and didn't want to upset her again. "Did Chuck find him yet?"

Jean sighed and leaned against the island counter, facing Logan. "Nothing yet. So far, he's narrowed it down to somewhere around Mardipoor." She took a breath before asking her next question. "Where is Rogue, Logan?"

Thinking for a moment, and then answering to his best of knowledge, he told her the only place that Rogue had mentioned. "Genosha." His brow furrowed for a moment. "But, that's a long ways from Mardipoor. And, I don't think she'd hurt him, physically." He scratched his head, in thought, and turned to look at the backdoor. "You think she had somethin to do with his disappearance?"

She followed his gaze and even went so far as to push off the counter and walk over to the door, finding the little girl and Storm walking down by basketball courts. "I don't know. What would she be doing in Genosha?"

Logan came to stand behind her at the door. He smiled as he watched the little girl squat down and pet a kitty that one of the other kids was holding. "My guess,.....? Lensherr." He sighed. "They'd been talkin for about 3 months before she called it quits. She went off on him for somethin he said, at the dinner table, and the next mornin she packed up and left."

"And, all this in front of the child?"

"Yes."

"How long ago was this?"

Logan sighed again. "About 6 months ago." He reached past her and pushed the door open as they both stepped out into the hot afternoon sun. "We need to find him fast. With or without Rogue, he needs to
take care of his kid, BEFORE she starts thinkin she's the one that did somethin wrong."



When dinner was served, Rhythm had sat so still and patient beside Logan. Her hands were, again, folded in her lap as she waited. She watched as Logan filled her plate with little piles of roast, mashed potatos, mini carrots, peas and a buttered biscuit. Nodding as he asked her if she was hungry enough to eat, she scooted forward on her seat to find the table almost as tall as she was.

Storm, who sat beside her, to her left as Logan was on the right, excused herself to get a phone book thick enough to act as a booster seat. When she came back, Logan lifted the girl up and she slid the thickest Yellow Pages she could find, underneath. "Would you like some soda, to drink?" She asked, before she sat back down.

"Non." Rhythm answered as she squirmed to get comfortable on the book.

"They don't give her sweets. It makes her hyper." Logan explained as he moved Rhythm's chair closer to the table. "But, she'll take some chocolate milk, though." He patted the little girl's head and watched her stab a carrot with her fork and bite half of it.

Storm had gone to get her some milk, while others had taken their places around the table and started to fill their plates and eat. When Storm came back, she set the small glass down in front of Rhythm's plate and then sat down in her own chair. Looking across the table to Scott, who had taken up interest in the small child, she caught his eye and silently warned him not to upset the girl again.

Rhythm busied herself with eating, occasionally rocking from side to side while she chewed. She had eaten quite a bit before setting her fork down beside her plate and tapping Logan on his arm and asking him for a drink. When he set down his fork and handed the glass to her, she took a few small gulps and handed it back to him. "T'ank you, Logan." Her smile beamed up at him, and she picked up her fork again to finish off her potatos and carrots.

"Yer welcome, darlin." Logan smiled and began finishing his own dinner.

Jubilee had spoken up from the other end of the table. "Hey Logan, who's the munchkin?" She called. Lowering her voice, she leaned over the table, as she had chosen a chair on the corner, across from them, and asked, "Is that Rogue's little girl?" Jubilee had only been home a little while, and missed metting the little girl while she was busy up in her room, studying for tests and things. She looked at the little girl,
who had sat forward and watched the young Asian woman, with big eyes.

Logan nodded. He finished chewing and introduced her. "This is Jubilee, darlin. She's okay." He had looked at Rhythm first, before looking back across the table to the woman and finishing the introduction. "Her name's Rhythm. She's my little shadow." He winked to Jubilee, which made her give a little laugh.

"What a cool name. Hi there, kiddo!" Jubilee waved with her left hand, as she held her fork in her right.

Rhythm peered out from behind Logan's arm, and gave a small wave back. She was unsure of most of
the people she had met at Xavier's. Scott being the only one she didn't like. As her ears registered the compliment, she sat forward and smiled an award-winning "Gambit smile" and chirped. "My poppa gived it ta me!"

"Awesome!" Was the cheerful reply. "Ya like hangin around with Logan?"

Rhythm nodded. "Yea."

"Yea." Jubilee repeated. "He's a pushover, huh?" She was nodding as she said the words and smiled as she was agreed with again. Catching Logan's eye, she giggled to herself and asked him the next question. "How long are you guys stayin? Where's Rogue?"

Logan finished chewing a piece of meat, and swallowed before sighing and answering. "Stayin a few
days, til we find where they went. The kid's kinda attatched to me, that's why she's here." He lowered his voice and turned to hand the glass of milk back to the little girl who had finished her meal.



Xavier had called the X-Men into his office to explain the results in looking for Gambit and Rogue. Storm, Logan and Jubilee had sat on one sofa, while Cyclops and Jean sat on the sofa across from them. They were waiting for Beast to come up from his laboratory and bring them up to date on other current matters concerning their present state.

A loud, high-pitched scream came from the foyer, and Logan was the first one to recognise it. He was on his feet and out of the office before the others had time to follow. Scooping up the small, petrified child as she had stood in the middle of the room and stared at the big, blue-furred doctor, who in turn, came to a sudden stop a fet feet away.

Snatching her up into his arms, he tried to comfort her as her tears and sobs started. "I gotcha, darlin. Shhh. You're okay." He held her, with one arm, against his chest, and soothed her hair. "This is Hank, darlin. He won't hurt ya." Logan waited until she hushed her sobs and looked at Beast before he continued. "We call him, Beast."

Hank took a long look at the small girl and gasped in awe as he guessed who she was. "Extrordinary! She is the tiniest version of our Rogue." He managed to settle his enthusiasm a bit, before apologising to her. "My dear, I did not mean to have startled you so. Please accept my apologies." He placed a hand on his chest as he addressed himself, curtly.

Storm and Logan exhanged glances, conversing about Storm taking the child up to get ready for bed while Logan fill yet another X-Man in on the situation. As he handed the yawning girl over to Storm, and then turned back to Beast to explain, his attention was, again, diverted to Rhythm wriggling out of Storm's arms to be placed on the floor. "Time for bed, Little Bit." He soothed, and innocently dared her to challenge him.

Rhythm yawned and nodded, too tired to fight. Hugging his leg and then rubbing her eyes, she waved a goodnight to the rest of the group, before taking Storm's hand and climbing the stairs one stair at a time. Reaching halfway up, she spoke, tiredly. "Ya sing, chere?"

"No. I'm sorry I don't." Storm answered in a hushed voice. "Does your daddy sing to you?"

"Oui." Rhythm struggled to climb the stairs and talk at the same time. "I sing ta you, chere. Kay?"
Nodding to herself, she had started singing a Cajun lullaby that Remy had once taught her. Not knowing how to pronounce some of the words, she did her best as they made it to the top of the stairs and started for Logan's room.

Continued.....