| Part 4 Author: SisterWine Rating: G 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. Several days had passed. Logan and the others hadn't returned from their trip, just yet. Rhythm's nightmares had become crying fits that Logan was now stuck there, with the others and Gambit. She refused to sleep alone, and her appetite had greatly deminished. It had been a few hours after breakfast, and Jubilee had taken Rhythm outside for some activity. They had been sitting on the swings for about an hour. No progress. Jubilee sat on the left, and Rhythm on the right, both facing away from the mansion. Rhythm had been staring at the same spot in front of her for the past 20 minutes, not noticing the jet lowering itself into the hangar below to basketball courts. The swing rocked back and forth, slowly. Her stare had become engrossed in the coming together of sand and grass. The swings' chains squeaked and groaned as they moved. "Are ya hungry?" Jubilee asked, looking over at the depressed little girl. Rhythm shrugged. "Non." She replied, but didn't look up. Her lavendar shorts and matching sleeveless shirt looked somewhat brighter against her raven hair. She had left her hair down, only pulling the sides back into a darker pruple bow. Her bare feet in her sandals had sand clinging to them, and she shook her feet every once in a while to loosen the sand. "Then, how about a hug?" A man's voice spoke from behind them. She knew that voice. She had been waiting for that voice, and the owner to come back. It was Logan's voice. Her eyes lifted from the spot, and she turned in her seat to make sure. A gasp, then a smile, and finally, a jump from the swing as she landed and turned to run to him. He stood there with his hands in his jeans pockets, and his black t-shirt and brown boots. He knelt, removing his hands from his pockets, and picked her up as she leapt into his arms for a long, tight hug. "Missed ya, Little Bit." "Missed y', too, Logan." Pulling back, she looked at him with a quirk of curiosity. "Ya bring my Poppa?" Logan smiled at her and reached a hand up to brush her bangs out of her eyes. "Yea, darlin. But, he's restin. You can see him in a day or two, okay?" "'Kay." She sighed. Her eyes lowered to his shirt. "He fo'get me, Logan?" Logan and Jubilee exchanged glances of concern before returning his eyes to the little girl in his arms. "Are you kiddin? Who could ever forget such a pretty little munchkin, like my Little Bit?" Her eyes looked up at him in slight disbelief, but she smiled at the compliment. Big, wet, violet eyes blinked and swam in happiness to have Logan and her daddy back, with almost no troubles. She hugged him again and let him take her back inside for lunch, while Jubilee followed. "Ya see my momma, Logan?" She asked as she was set on a chair, at the island counter, in the kitchen. "Yea, darlin, I saw her. She's visitin your daddy, right now. Parent stuff." He watched as her expression became almost grave. Logan knew she was too young to be thinking so grown up yet, she had been aware of alot more than any other 5 year old he'd known. "It'll be okay, kiddo." He'd reassure, always. "Now, how about some lunch? But first, you need to wash your hands." "'Kay." She looked at her hands and then raised her arms for Jubilee to lift her down from the seat, while Logan went to make her some lunch. Rhythm ran to the half-bath in the corridor, while Jubilee and Logan stayed in the kitchen. She smiled and hopped a few times at her excitement. "Rogue was tellin me that she hasn't been eatin. And, her nightmares were pretty rough. What'd we miss?" Logan held the butterkniffe in his hand as he turned around to ask Jubilee, pausing in making Rhythm's lunch. His fear was confirmed as the Asian woman nodded, solemnly. Sighing, he turned back to the sandwich makings. Jubilee sat in the chair that Rhythm had sat in, and leaned against the counter. "Last night and the night before were the worst. She just about woke everyone up with her screamin and cryin. Mostly, she'd call for you, or Gambit. She pushed anyone away who wasn't you two." "What did she say?" "I couldn't understand. Somethin in Cajun, and muffled through tears. Rogue's been havin to hold her in order to get her to go to sleep. Is he okay, Logan? What happened to him?" Jubilee asked as Logan had put the sandwich on a paper plate and turned around to put it on the counter. "He's pretty bad, kid. We found him in some pretty heavy mess. He says he doesn't remember what happened. They were lookin for info on Rhythm. Some kind of hooded people who didn't bother explainin to him just what they'd do after they had the kid." Logan sighed, and listened for small footsteps. Jubilee sat back in the chair. She was shocked at someone actually being able to overtake Gambit, in attempt to have him hand over his daughter for unknown reasons. "How'd they get him? Rogue told the Prof. that he and Magneto went outside to chat, and then Mags came back in alone." Logan sighed, and looked towards the door as Rhythm had been standing/hiding behind the doorframe, and peering in. His eyes met hers and he waved her into the room. Jubilee had moved to the next chair, as Logan lifted Rhythm up to sit beside her. Sliding the plate with a peanutbutter and jelly sandwich in front of the little girl, she smiled and glanced back to Jubilee. "T'ank you, Logan." She smiled and picked up a triangle-cut half and took a bite. Smiling back, Logan leaned against the counter, across from her, and watched. "You're welcome, darlin." Logan and Rogue stood in the entranceway to the television room, chatting and watching Rhythm lie on the floor as she watched cartoons and dozed in and out of her nap. "He tell ya what he told me?" Logan focused on the tiny body that lay in front of the television, with a big, fluffy maroon pillow behind her head. Looking back to the woman beside him, he waited for her answer. "Yea. He mentioned that they might follow him back home, just to get to her. Ah can't risk them gettin 'hold of mah baby. It's bad enough they were able to get ahold of him." She had kept her voice low, as did Logan. Her eyes focused on Rhythm as she rolled over onto her side, away from them. "Ah'm gonna talk to Erik. Ah want her to come home with me, until this is over with. They can't have mah Rhythm." "You sure she'll approve of bein taken away from her daddy?" Logan asked. His eyes looking at the giant screen, and the cartoons that were running in circles, on it. The room had been darkened as the thick drapes had been drawn, so that only the light from the screen lit the room. Rogue sighed. "What can Ah do, Logan? We gotta ALWAYS be one step ahead of the bad guys. If takin her away from Remy will slow them down, then Ah'm gonna do it. Ah saw her hair, and had a special display, last night, of just what the dickens he's been teachin her. She's just a little girl, and needs to act like one." Looking at Logan, but pointing to the sleeping child on the floor, her anger was slowly overtaking her voice, raising it a bit. Logan unfolded his arms and pushed off of the frame he had been leaning on. "Look, I know what he said to you, at the table, was uncalled for. Yes. But, in the same sentiment, he said exactly what he felt and expected to be misunderstood. He went after you, because I pushed him. What you two don't seem to realise is that there's a little girl in the middle of this mess, and she's pretty broken up that her momma and daddy aren't together anymore. She understands it. That's what's hurtin her, Rogue. These monsters she's talkin about, I'm bettin it's another name for the wedge that's been driven between you and Remy." His point was made. It was clear from her expression back to him. He dropped his temper and stepped into the room as small whimpers and cries interrupted them. Making his way, quickly, over to the now shaking and sobbing little child, he nudged her shoulder with his hand and rolled her over to look at him. "Wan' my poppa, Logan." Rhythm squeaked as she sat up and wrapped her arms about his neck to hug him. Her body was warm from sweat and sleep. Watching from the doorway, Rogue sighed and straightened as Logan had held the child close and turned around to catch Rogue's eye. She knew Logan was right. She knew he and Remy had had many talks about everything under the sun, the moon, and cloudy weather. Yet, that hadn't stopped her from thinking she had been right in deciding to take Rhythm back with her. As long as her child was safe, she hadn't thought about anything further. Her only problem was, how was she going to tell Rhythm that she was going to go back with her, and not Remy? "Soon, darlin. Soon." His voice whispered in her ear. He lifted her up, onto his knee and shifted to carry her over to the sofa and lie her down, with her head on the leather arm. Logan smiled down at her, and reached for the remote that sat on the glass coffee table. Turning off the television, and brushing her hair behind her ears, his eyes caught a tiny scratch on the left side of her neck, just below the jawline. "What happened here, Little Bit?" He brushed his right index finger's tip along the inch long red line. Rhythm lifted her hand to touch the scratch he was talking about, and rolled away from him. "Bad girl, cher. Rhyt'm a bad girl." She whispered, almost scoldingly, as she buried her face, in shame, into the sofabacking. Logan's expression hardened. "No darlin, you're not a bad girl." Looking up as Rogue had come to stand behind the sofa and lean over the back. His eyes looked back to Rhythm and asked again. "What happened?" "She started glowin, and screamin. She was asleep. And, Ah guess Ah kinda slapped her to wake her up. Scratched her on accident, and she fell off the bed." Rogue answered, softly. "Kinda told her not to do that again." Her hands played with the material of her pink T-shirt sleeves and buckles of her grey overalls. Rhythm sat up and wrapped her arms around Logan, again, crying her apologies. "Wan' my poppa, now!" "She's been askin about you. Wonderin when she'll get to see her daddy." He took a moment to breathe before finishing. "....And, hopes you haven't forgotten her." Logan had stood just inside the near-empty medlab room, talking to Remy, as he had just woken from a drug-induced nap. Walking to stand at the side of Gambit's bed, he examined Remy with his eyes. "How ya feelin?" Remy shrugged, drowsily. "What ya tell her?" He watched as Logan took a seat on a stool beside the bed, to his right. He had been in pain and felt half-dead, but he'd never admit to either. Tubes, wires and monitors had been hooked up to him. His clothes he had been wearing, were removed and replaced with sweatpants and a thin T-shirt. A blanket covered him to his waist, his fingers played with the material. Brow furrowing, Logan took his time in answering. "I told her she'll have to wait a few days for you to catch up on rest. But, don't take too long, huh? Her powers are becomin a bit troublesome to certain people." "Who?" "Ah told her, Ah was sorry." Rogue spoke up from the doorway. Remy frowned. "So, you yelled at my daughter?" "Our daughter, Remy." Her expression turned to hurt as she had corrected him. He glared at her. "Den start actin like her momma, Rogue." Groaning as his anger had caused his chest and head to hurt, Remy had to look away from them. The machines beeped louder and faster as his anger peaked. Rogue took a breath. "That's why Ah am gonna take her back to live with Erik and Ah. Ah think she'll do a lot better around someone who can teach her how to control what she has." Remy sat up and threw her a mean glare. "You're what?!" He lay back on the inclined bed as Logan's hand rest on his shoulder. "Wha's she got, Rogue? She don' have no disease. She's jus' a little girl comin int' her powers. You t'rew out bein her momma when y' lef' dat mornin. Took us f'rever t' get her to stop cryin. Den de nigh'mares, an' accidents, an' followin started. Don' take my chile so soon. Y' don' know what y' gonna get." "Just listen to her, kid. She has an idea to outsmart those hoods that came after you." Logan calmed. Remy sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, he stared calmly, at Rogue and awaited her explanation. This hadn't been what he was thinking in the original argument. Nothing had worked out to his expectations of things. But, he listened. Putting her hands in her pockets of her grey overalls, she looked at the monitor that had been connected to his heart via a series of wires. "If someone is after Rhythm, then we need to put her first. Ah need mah chance to tell mah side of the story, to her." "Den, we leave her here. Neutral. I dun' want Magneto nowhere near her." Remy stated, angrily. Logan decided it was best to make a quiet exit. Slipping out of the room, unnoticed, he headed back upstairs but was stopped as Xavier called to him from the end of another corridor. "What's goin on?" He asked as he was halfway down the corridor. The man had sat, waiting, outside of Cerebro and looking rather concerned. "I am aware of what Rogue and Gambit are discussing, and I think it's best that the child go with her mother. She is quite powerful, and can be highly dangerous in this state of uncontrolling." Logan came to a stop in front of Xavier. "Sounds like she already made her decision final before consultin with Remy. I just want the kid safe." Logan put his hands on his hips and shifted his weight to his right foot, as he stood there. "Let me show you why I have come to this conclusion." Turning his chair around and unlocking Cerebro with the retinal scan, he pushed forward and led Logan to the end of the walk. Reaching for the helmet and placing it on his head, he began concentrating on a certain red form. "She is sleeping, now. And through her dreams, we'll be able to see what she sees. Granted, she has the same blocks that Remy posesses, hers tend to give just enough to let us observe." He stood just as still as a post, and watched an image that seemed technicoloured, fill the entire room. "This is what she sees?" He asked, staring into a shadowed laboratory with machines that beeped and blinked red and yellow lights. Eerie sounds came from everywhere, and nowhere. A laugh, deep and rich, filled the room and drowned most of the previous sounds. His eyes focussed on a child in a cage. "Yes." Was the reply. "This is what she is dreaming. I can be inside her eyes, or just an observer in the dream. Right now, that is her in the cage. She has had this dream several times before, and has broadcast it to any telepath as a message of help. My guess would be that the people who have abducted Remy, thought he was one of her captors. Another guess, is that this could very well be the place where they have expectations of holding her. Did you see anything like this room when you went in to rescue him?" Logan looked more closely at the room. "Not really. But, there were rooms that we hadn't checked. He was in a cage, in somethin lookin like a throne room. The cage he was in looked more like a power grid." He blinked and refocussed on the girl in the cage. She was older now, about mid-teens. Her eyes had glowed from red to white, as her anger of the surrounding cage grew. "What do they want her for?" He asked as the girl stood up from a crouched position and seemed to be staring straight back at the two men who observed her. "I'm not sure, but I think she--" Xavier was cut off as the girl approached the separating bars and spoke. "Save him, Logan! Time is short." Her voice sounded as if inside a tunnel and had cried out to them. Her face had caught light from a skylight overhead, letting in the moonlight. Reaching her hand out to them as if she had wanted them to touch her. Black bangs covered her eyes, but not the glow they had cast. Her hair was longer, much longer. And, her body was even thinner from lack of eating the food that had been served to her. Her clothes were torn and dirty. Minus the five plates of rotten food on the floor and herself, the cage was empty. It sat off to the far right of the room, against the wall. The bars looked rusted yet everytime she had tried to charge them in attempt to escape, they would reverse the charge and only end up shocking her with her own powers. The room went black and Cerebro was shut off. "She has awoken." Xavier noted as he removed the helmet and turned around. "Does she remember us in the dream?" Logan asked as his mind flipped her plea for help. "This 'him', is she talkin about Remy?" Xavier took a moment to ponder the questions. "I don't think she realises that we were in her mind." Rubbing a finger against his chin, his brow furrowed as he answered the next question. "I'm not entirely sure just whom she was talking about. It could be Gambit, or someone in that timeframe of future, to where she is that old. I don't think it will do any good to ask her about them, now." They had begun walking back to the door as he answered. "Keep an eye on Gambit, as you both return home. I will have Rogue watch Rhythm and let me know of any change in her. I think I recognise that particular lab." After two days of being on her best behaviour, Rhythm was finally allowed to see Remy. She held Logan's hand as they rode the lift down to the medical lab, and followed Beast to the end of the corridor. Beast and Logan had been chatting about how Gambit had been fairing, leaving Rhythm to walk behind them and peer into a few rooms with open doors. "Keep up, Little Bit. You'll get lost down here." Logan had stopped and turned to see the little girl also stopped and peering into a room to her right. Jean and Rogue had gone shopping, the day before, and couldn't resist buying a few dresses and jumpers for the tiny child. Rhythm now wore a summer dress that was white in colour with thin spaghetti straps and a tight bodice with lace ruffles lining the top in a quarter inch high line. It was a long dress, similar to more of a woman's underslip than a dress. A matching white lace bow in back that was nearly as big as a small pillow. Her hair had been pulled back from her face, while leaving the back down, and clipped together with her favourite purple bow. Fresh white sandals with open toes and pink and green flowers on the sides tapped as she ran to catch up to the men. "My poppa here, Logan?" She asked as she grabbed at his hand again with her left and placing her right index finger to her chin in thought. "Yea, darlin. Just a few more doors." Logan continued walking with Beast and her. Rhythm's eyes watched every single inch of the corridor. She noted each sound she heard and kept her pace with Logan, amazingly. Eyes opened widely as they came to a stop at the door. She looked up at the lock and released Logan's hand. Backing up from the door to her right, she put her hands behind her back and stepped cautiously away. The door slid open and Beast was the first to go in, followed by Logan, who had thought to let her come in on her own. Voice came from inside. Beast and Logan were talking to a weak sounding man with an accent she recognised. Her poppa was there. But, he didn't sound the least bit anxious to receive visitors. Peering around the corner, into the room, she saw Beast standing to Gambit's left and viewing several machines he had been hooked up to. Logan stood on his right, and had turned to wave her into the room. Shaking her head no, she began to back up. A small pink tongue slipped out to lick small pink lips that had dried it's strawberry gloss. Her eyes widened in almost horror as Remy had caught sight of her. "Venir ici, la fille!" Remy called to her. "Come here, petite." Waving her into the room and smiling as she stepped into view. Shoes tapping again as she ran up to the bedside, where Logan stood, and raised her arms to be lifted up. Her smile was nearly as big and bright as her eyes as she examined her father, carefully. As Logan lifted her up onto the bed, beside Remy, she asked him a question. "Like my dress, Poppa? De lady--" Rhythm looked back at Logan for the name before continuing. "Jean." Logan smiled. "Yea." Turning her head back to look at Remy, who was reclining at an angle and admiring his daughter's brilliance, finished. "Jean, gived it ta me." Remy smiled and opened his arms for a hug. "Il para�t beau sur vous. Jus' so beautiful on my petite Rhyt'm." He groaned in slight pain as she fell into his arms and hugged him, tightly. Letting go as she heard the groan, she sat back and apologised. "Desole, poppa. Jus' wan' a hug...?" She looked over to Logan for explanation of what she did wrong. Her head hung and lip trembled as Remy groaned a few more times and shifted in the bed. Tears began to fall as her eyes watched him. "Non, non ma petite cherie. Don' cry, girl." Remy soothed and dried her tears with a tender thumb. "Come, lay beside poppa." He patted the now wider space to his right and smiled as she gingerly snuggled down beside him. Logan watched and had almost spoken when Remy stopped him. Nodding and watching the little girl drape her right arm over Remy's stomach, and lay her head on his shoulder as his right arm held her close. He slipped a hand to her little sandals and removed them, placing them on the floor beside the bed, before helping Remy to cover the dozing child with his blanket. "She be okay, Logan. We take a nap, toget'er, no?" Remy whispered and kissed the top of her head. Sighing, but nodding in understanding, Logan waved at Beast to follow him out of the room and turn off the lights. He smiled at the thought of Rhythm being so happy that morning and finally getting to see her father after nearly 4 weeks. Making sure Beast kept an eye on them, in case her nightmares should spark. He didn't want Remy to be in the middle of her scared rage as she slept. A day later, Remy had been well enough to come upstairs and join everyone for dinner. He had been able to stand and walk on his own, and was allowed to bathe and dress in a sweatsuit. He sat in a chair, mid-table, on Rhythm's left as Logan sat to her right. Rogue sat across from him and occasionally mouthed a few words to him about when to tell Rhythm who she would go home with. He would only sigh go back to staring briefly at the little girl, who had smiled at him and rocked from side to side in her chair as she ate. While the others were busy with their own conversations and meals, Rogue leaned over the table and whispered to him. "Tell her, Remy." Her tone had been almost angry as her impatience had caught up with it. For two days, she had watched from a distance as Remy and Rhythm had coloured pictures out of a colouring book, talked and sang together. "Later." Remy answered, in the same annoyed whispering tone she had used. Rogue took a deep breath. Her tone changed as she looked from him to Rhythm, who had become aware of their chatter. "Baby, how would you like to spend some time with momma? Let daddy get better and rest, while you and Ah visit where momma lives?" She watched Rhythm's expression change from happy to inquisitive. "Poppa an' Logan come, too?" Her tiny voice had spoken volumes as the rest of the table's people stopped their own conversations and stared at her. Her big eyes blinked at Rogue. She had worn a light blue jumper with a white T-shirt that ruffled at the sleeves. She stilled from rocking and eating her carrots. Brushing her bangs out of her eyes with the back of her left hand, she continued to stare at Rogue, waiting for an answer. Logan and Remy both stopped eating and looked at each other before turning their attentions back to Rogue. Logan noted Remy gripping his fork tighter than he had been, as Rogue had asked the question. He also noted that Remy hadn't breathed in a minute's time. Smiling and half-laughing, Rogue put her fork down and dropped her tone a notch to whisper back. "No, baby. Ah mean, they go back home, and you come with me. There's someone there who'd like to meet ya." Remy inhaled and held his breath. He glared at Rogue for taking the moment away from him. Rhythm looked up at Remy and asked in a small, fragile voice. "Vous ne me voulez pas, plus?" She put down her fork and bit her bottom lip as she waited for his answer. Tears threatened to fall, but didn't. She could feel all eyes on her and Remy as seconds turned to eternity. Moving his eyes from Rogue to the child beside him, Remy exhaled and swallowed. "Dat's not it, petite. O'course I want you. But, yo' momma t'ink dat she need some time wit' you, too. S' jus' for a little while, girl. Den, you can come home wit' me an' Logan, no?" He had said it to his best calm voice he could muster. His heart pound in his head as he stared into huge violet eyes. Logan reached to rub the little girl's back and soothe her. "It'll be okay, Little Bit. It's just for a little while. I'll take good care of him, and I'm sure we could talk on the phone, huh?" Rhythm nodded but didn't look at anyone. Instead, she lowered her gaze to her lap, and sat back in her chair, refusing to finish her meal. She thought for a minnute about the situation, and then climbed down from the chair and headed for door. She ran to the foyer and began to climb the stairs, stumbling a few times as her tears fogged her vision. Hands on her forearms startled her. "Me l�che! Me partir seul!" She screamed, but didn't turn around. Instead she stopped her movements and waited to be released. "Hey, wait a minute, kiddo. It's just me- Jubilee. You okay, hun?" Jubilee said as she sat beside Rhythm on the stairs. "Listen, I know how it is with parents. But, I also know that Remy and Rogue both love you, and want what's best. I bet your mom will let you talk to Remy and Logan, anytime you want. Right? And, maybe it won't be as long as you think." She hushed as the little girl turned around and sat down beside her. Drying her eyes with the back of her hands, Rhythm sniffled and stared at the floor. "Je voux rentrer." She said as calmly as she could. "Huh?" "Means she wan's t' go home, chere." Remy stood in the doorway to the dining room and observed. Jubilee looked from Rhythm to Remy. It hurt her to see such a happy child in so much pain. But, what had hurt the most was knowing that she couldn't help. Rogue stood behind Remy and moved to cross the foyer to the stairs. "Come on, baby. Let's go get ready to go home, okay?" Reaching a hand out for Rhythm's, she was immediately brushed away as the little girl stood up and turned to hurry up the stairs, screaming in Cajun that she wanted to go home with her daddy. "Rhythm!" She called, but the girl hadn't stopped until she reached the top of the stairs and ran for Logan's room. Logan's door slammed shut and Rhythm climbed up on the nicely made bed and cried into a pillow. "How dare you put her in de spotlight like dat!" Remy yelled. He had paced Xavier's office floor for a few minutes, as he, Rogue, Logan and Xavier had gathered for a meeting. Rogue sat at the end of one sofa and watched him. "And when were you gonna tell her? A minute before we left?" Her anger grew. Remy stopped and stared at her. "I was gonna tell her after dinner, girl. Instead, y' put her on de stand like dat an' cause her t' leave. She t'ink's dat I don' want her." He began pacing again. His chest and head had begun to ache again but he ignored it. Sighing and thinking of something to say to them, Xavier listened to each story. "Gambit, I think Rogue might have a reason as to why she wants Rhythm to go with her. And, it is understandable that the child is upset. However, the long she stays here, the more frightened she becomes around the other students. Logan and I have seen into her mind, and I have come up with a decision that the child cannot stay here. Whatever came after you, is also after your child. Though I can protect her, I cannot hide her from her fears. Not with her as powerful as she is, when upset. I have also spoken to Erik, and he has agreed to try and help her contain her power to a level that will hide her from those after her." "Just until she is old enough to understand what she has, Remy. We have good schools there, and y'all are welcome to come for visits." Rogue said, calmly. Logan had been leaning against the door with his arms folded about his chest and legs crossed at the ankles. "If it keeps her safe, Cajun, let them have her." Remy stopped pacing and sighed. His hands on his hips and teeth biting at his lower lip. He had been facing in Logan's direction and met the other man's calm gaze as he nodded, solemnly. "Fine. But, I call to make sure she's okay." Rogue nodded. Continued..... again! Venir ici, la fille -- Come here, girl. Il para�t beau sur vous - It looks beautiful on you Vous ne me voulez pas, plus? - You don't want me, anymore? Me l�che! - Let go of me! Me partir seul! - Leave me alone Je vous rentrer - I want to go home |