TomorrowsYesterday

TOMORROW'S YESTERDAY

Author: SisterWine
Rating: PG
Archive: I guess. But, give proper credit, please.
Warnings: None, really.
Summary: Sequel to "Memories of the Future".
Disclaimers: Not mine, don't own X-Men. But, KEEP YOUR PAWS OFF MY RHYTHM!

July 18, 2021

Today was her favourite day. She was up and awake by 8 A.M., ready for breakfast. She slipped on her fluffy Scooby-Doo slippers and raced down the stairs, not bothering to get dressed, and ran into the kitchen. Hair mussed and the T-Shirt Logan had sent her, for Christmas, had been a bit wrinkled and slightly big for her. She had grown, but not much. Her hair was shorter, and barely brushed past her shoulders. It had been kept black, but striahgtened as well as cut. The violet in her eyes had lightened from lack of kinetic use, as the band on her wrist had become more of a permanent fixture.

She had made it through a horrid year at a very prestigous Catholic school for rich people. The children in her First Grade class would point and laugh at her bracelet, taunting the mutant who was refrained from using her powers. It had been a live-in school, and she would run to the Mother Superior after several girls and boys (mutant and human alike) had managed to gang up on her. They had been so mean with teasing her about the way she talked, and referring to her as the "Stupid Lousy-anan". She'd beg to be allowed a phone call to Louisiana but, would always settle for a call to Rogue or Erik. After
the nurse would clean her up and calm her down, she'd talk to Rogue and agree to go back to class.

On holidays, she would be allowed to talk to Remy and Logan, and beg for them to come get her.
Hiding her tears of understanding as each told her they weren't able to, just yet, she blew kisses and told them she loved them before hanging up. They had both promised to see her at Christmas, but were told no by Rogue for miscellaneous reasons. Boxes and flowers would arrive for her, cards attached would tell her that she was thought of and desperately missed. She'd stare at their pictures in a small album they'd sent, and practice reading the cards, over and over, before bed each night.

The massive kitchen had been at least big enough to fit 2 of Remy's medium sized kitchens, side by side. To the left had been a metal refrigerator, a red marble counter with a stainless steel sink that sat adjacent to the fridge, and windows with see-through white drapes, in front of her. To her right had been a dining room that was big enough to seat 14 people at a very large and heavy polished oak table. Peering into the room, she found Rogue and Erik sitting side by side on the end closest to her. Standing in the doorway, and waiting ot be acknowledged, she fidgeted with her fingers and sighed as she stared at the end of the table directly in front of her.

"Mornin, baby. Want some cereal?" Rogue turned her head from Erik and reading the paper over his shoulder, to smile at the child that was now climbing onto a chair across from them. Taking a last sip of her coffee, she stood up and waited for an answer.

Rhythm answered a happy, "Yes."

"Yes, what?" Erik lowered the paper and spoke up as he looked at her with a stern but inviting manner.

"Please." Rhythm added, sitting on the seat and wiggling around to get comfortable. Her hair swayed
and jumped to a stop as she finally stopped her squirming and waited for her cereal.

As Rogue had left and came back with a bowl of Kix, she placed the bowl in front of Rhythm before sitting back down to sip her coffee and watch the little girl eat.

"I see my Poppa an' Logan, now?" Bright violet eyes stared up at the woman.

Rogue smiled a gentle smile. "If he shows up, shugah." She and Erik were both dressed as if they were going to a formal party. Her longish hair was in curls and she wore a nice long red dress with matching red high heels. The curls in her hair had been soft twirls of brown and white, resting on her shoulders and spiraling down her shoulderblades.

The table had come up to her chin and she began to squirm on her seat, again. Adjusting herself to sit on her legs, she was told by Rogue to sit still and finish. Squirming to get comfortable, and finally finding a position, she continued to eat. Taking another bite, chewing and swallowing, she stared at Rogue's hair and then pointed to her own. "Ya make mine like dat, momma?"

"Sure, sweetie." Rogue smiled.

Rhythm beamed a smile and pushed her bowl towards Rogue to show that she had finished her cereal. Slipping off her chair, on the right hand side, she excused herself from the table and reached back for her bowl. Heading for the kitchen, and setting it on the counter, by the sink, she then skipped back upstairs and into her room.

Rogue had walked into the room, a few minutes later, and found Rhythm standing in front of her wardrobe. The doors had been opened wide, exposing the many dresses and other clothes that hung neatly inside. "Need a bath, first, shugah."

"'Kay!" Rhythm turned and ran out of the room and down the corridor, to the left. She came to a stop at the 2nd door to the end on the right and went in. The bare white marble tile on the floor and walls brightened as the sun peered in through the large skylight in the high ceiling. A tall white stand-alone
sink with a rounded mirror and a blue, wooden 2-step step stool stood in front of her. The antique bathtub with claw-like feet stood on a step, and was already filled with water, waiting for her. The room itself had been as big, if not bigger than her own room at Remy's house. Bathtub on the left, and a shower stall big enough for two, to her right.

Removing her T-shirt and pink panties and setting them down on the toiletseat lid, she shivered and turned to call to Rogue. "Momma, ready." Saying that just before the woman entered the room, she climbed the step and held on to the side of the tub, ready to get in.

Walking in and closing the door behind her, she turned to see Rhythm start to climb into the tub, and running a hand through the water. She smiled. "Ah got yer towel and washcloth ready." Holding up her hands to show the girl the fluffy peach towel with matching cloth. "Put the bathmat down, before you get in." Reaching to a shelf above the toilet and handing the child the blue mat and peach cloth before moving the clothes to sit down on the toiletlid. Placing the towel and clothes on her lap, she waited for Rhythm to stand up from her chore and reached for the bracelet. "Let me take the bracelet off, hun." Pushing a button and catching it as it unlocked and fell into her hands. Placing it on her lap with the towel and nightclothes, she watched as Rhythm eagerly climbed into the bath and sat down.

Pinnk bubbles filled the tub as Rhythm held her hands on the surface of the water and lightly charged it. She had been practicing with Erik and on her own. Stopping what she was doing to clap and look up at Rogue to show her what she had done, she chirped happily. "Look, momma! I did it!" She pointed to
the bubbles as they began to fade.

"Good, shugah! Wanna try with soap, now?"

"Oui." A smile and a prompt nod.

Pouring a small puddle into the water and watching the tiny hands glow, making the water fizzle pink, she knelt beside the tub and smiled at the girls accomplishment. She had been proud of Rhythm for being able to control her powers and not have so many nightmares. Becoming a bit emotional as she thought of the hearing for custody, and Remy possibly winning, she shook herself back to the little girl and told her to start washing up.

Finishing the bath, Rhythm was dried off and wrapped up in her towel before being carried back to her room to get dressed. She sat on her bed and watched Rogue pick the clothes to wear, for her. She was handed a purple mini skirt with ruffles that lined the bottom, and a matching sleeveless shirt and white panties with tiny yellow stars on them.

As Rogue went back to the dresser to gathers pink socks and dress shoes from the wardrobe's floor, she hadn't noticed that Rhythm had stood up on her bed and began to dress herself. Turning back, and watching as Rhythm finished dressing and sat back down, she walked over to hand her the socks and shoes. While the girl was distracted with a sock, she picked up the bracelet that had been tucked into a pocket in her dress, and slipped it back onto the girl's tiny wrist.

"Bu', I be good, momma. Dun' wan' dis on." She tugged at the band after it had been snapped into place.

"Just a pre-caution, sweetie." Rogue assured.

"Oh." Rhythm sighed and forgot about the band as she was lifted down from her bed and raced back to the bathroom, with Rogue following, the towel in her hands. Climbing onto the stool and waiting for Rogue to come in with the curling iron, she began to hum to herself and dance in place to her tune.

As Rogue finished brushing and curling her hair and she had finished brushing her teeth, she turned around on her stool and smoothed her skirt. "I look pretty for my Poppa an' Logan..?"

Rogue stood back and smiled. "Yes, baby. You look very pretty."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Remy and Logan sat in the empty courtroom and waited for the two lawyers and judge to come back from conference. Remy sat in the defendant's chair while Logan took a seat behind him. He had turned around in the chair to talk to Logan just before the courtroom doors opened and Rogue and Erik entered.

Both men stood and greeted them as they came to a stop in front of them.

"Where's Rhyt'm?" Remy asked, trying not to sound too impatient, as Rogue stopped a few feet away from him. He had been dressed in a black suit with a white shirt and black polished boots. His hair had been combed back and had made him look very sofisticated, for once.

Rogue focussed on Remy and stated as calmly as she could. "Judge wants to talk to her."

"Oh. She been okay?" He inquired.

Rogue nodded. "She's been accepted into one of Genosha's finest private schools. She starts Second Grade in September."

Remy and Logan's jaws dropped. Fumbling for words, Remy asked. "Dis de same live-in school?"

"Yes."

"No." Remy fumed. "Dun' wan' her dere." He calmed as Logan's hand on his shoulder reminded him where he was.

"Remy, she needs proper schoolin. She's mah daughter, too!" Rogue snapped back. Balling her hands into fists, she glared back at him before Logan stepped in between.

With a calm tone, Logan rationalised. "Let's let the judge decide where she goes, okay?" He, himself, had gotten dressed up in a suit and polished shoes. He looked quite handsome, and decent considering he hated being so formal.

The door to the judge's chambers opened and out skipped a tiny girl in purple and short black hair. Taking a few steps out of the room, she stopped and stared at her mother before seeing the two men she had been talking to. Her violet eyes lit up and she smiled as big as her mouth would let her. "Poppa!! Poppa!!" Dashing around the table and leaping into Remy's arms, she hugged him and kissed his cheek before reaching to her left for Logan.

"Hey, darlin. Yer gettin big, Little Bit." Logan smiled as he held her and kissed her cheek.

Remy ran a hand through Rhythm's hair and asked why it was so short. Smiling at the little girl in Logan's arms before turning back to stare at Rogue, he cleared his throat in impatience.

"Too hot for long hair, Remy. Besides, it was gettin in the way, and too long for school." Answering
and reaching out to untangle two curls from each other, in the child's hair.

Rhythm had overheard the conversation and lifted a hand to play with a ribbon of curled black silk. "I--
I look pretty, momma?" Her tone had changed from happy to uncertain as she looked from Remy to Rogue.

"Yes, shugah, you look very pretty." Rogue patted her back and soothed.

Now, it seemed, it was Logan's turn to notice something about the child he held. "She really need this on?" Shifting the child to one side and holding the wrist that had adorned the bracelet. Showing Remy before Rogue moved to stand beside him and remove the band, he sighed inwardly and comforted the child as she became unsure of the talk around her.

Both lawyers had now come from the judge's chambers and took their seats beside their clients as the judge took his seat. The wooden gavel thumped onto a wooden coaster as the judge announced, "Be seated." He began filing through a few folders on his desk as he waited for Rogue, Remy and Logan to sit down.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Logan held her on his lap, with his arms around her. She sat across his lap, with her head on his right shoulder and an occasional hug for any reason she could think of. He'd pat her back and listen as well as watch the judge, very carefully, as he would occasionally touch his left index fingertip to her small nose and quickly take it away.

The judge had called Logan up to testify on Remy's behalf. Placing Rhythm on the seat beside his, he patted her head and whispered that he'd be right back. He made his way to the stand and was sworn in by the Baliff, before taking his seat. He had sat down in a box-type section with a single chair that faced out to Rogue and Remy.

Remy's lawyer was first to ask him a few questions.

"How long have you known the LeBeaus?" A gentleman in his early 50s with short, curly salt and pepper hair had come to stand in front of his client's table and lean against it. He wore a tan coloured suit with polished brown loafers and a white shirt. He wasn't a heavy man, but wasn't very thin, either. His voice had been a tangle of southern accents, embedded into a rich sound.

Logan thought for a moment. "About 30 years, or so." He sighed before answering and kept his gaze on the man speaking to him.

"Okay." The man nodded. "And, how long have you been living with Mister LeBeau?"

"I moved in just after Rhythm was born. That was about 7 years ago." Catching Rhythm's eye and winking as she had smiled at him.

The man was silent for a long moment. "Have you ever seen Mister LeBeau mistreat Rhythm, in anyway?"

"No, sir."

"Has he ever left her alone at any time, or endangered her in any way?" Pushing off of the table and taking a few steps closer to Logan.

Sighing again, inwardly, he answered with another calm, "No, sir."

"And, when she was unable to be with either parent, who did she stay with?"

"Me, mainly. Or, the kid's aunt, Mattie."

"When she is with her father, how does she act?" Drawling with a Georgian twang on the "how", he took a step closer to Logan and turned to look at the little girl, sliding his hands into his pants pockets.

Logan followed his gaze to the child, then glanced at Remy, who stared back at him with quiet reserve. "She's a happy kid. She loves him, he loves her. Both parents taught her manners, and she was very good at followin them to a T."

"When she misbehaved, how would Mister LeBeau punish her?"

Logan thought. He couldn't remember her really behaving badly, but one incident came to mind. "A few years ago, she had accidentily broken a glass, after a tantrum, and had to sit on a chair, at the kitchen table, until she apologised. She was only there for about half an hour."

"No spankings, no wrist slaps?"

"No. The kid doesn't believe in Capitol punishment."

The man nodded. "One last question. There was an incident that resulted in her getting a scratch on her left jawline. How did that happen?"

Catching Rogue's eye and finding the hidden horror as he started to answer, he resumed his attentions to the man and cleared his throat. "I wasn't present when she got that scratch. But, I was told it had somethin to do with her usin her developin powers, at the time. Her mother was with her, when she got it."

"Thank you." The man turned around and headed back to his seat. "No further questions."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The cross-examination of Logan was next. Rogue's lawyer, a very well-educated and highly sophisticated woman in her early 40s stood up and stared at Logan in a carefully disguised icy tone. She was taller and thinner than Remy's lawyer. Her board straight and thick, blonde hair had been pulled back into a single braid that hung heavily down her back. A dark gray jacket and matching skirt that came down to her knees had hidden her slender body. Her black blouse and thin, black rimmed glasses had accented her thin face. "You've stated that you've lived with the LeBeaus since after Rhythm was born, correct?" Her voice was firm but, not as heavy as her opposing councel.

A nod. "Yes. Seven years in November."

"So, you were there that night when Mister LeBeau started a fight at the dinner table, which resulted in my client leaving the next day?" She held a sleak black pen in her hands and subconsciously flipped it end over end, as she spoke.

A deep sigh and a vivid memory of the raised voices and harsh words that had errupted in the kitchen that night. "I was there, yes. It was a mutual conversation."

She nodded and began to glance over her notes that lay in front of her, on the table. "How were you involved in their 'conversation'?"

"I wasn't."

"But, you were at the table when it started, were you not?" She looked up from her notes as he had answered her previous question.

Another nod. "I was there. Though, the conversation between Remy and Rogue was about somethin that happened before I moved in."

Stepping around the table, and coming closer to Logan, she stopped a few feet away and continued her questions. "You mentioned that you often watched Rhythm, when her parents were away or unable to care for her. How did she react to that situation, and how did you discipline her, when she misbehaved?"

Logan watched as Rhythm had slid off of her chair and stood behind Remy, tapping his shoulder and reaching for his hand to hold. "She rarely misbehaved, if at all, while I was watchin her. She'd follow both the Cajun and myself around, after her momma left." Glancing as Rhythm held Remy's hand with her right hand and rest her left arm on the top of the low wall that separated them.

"You have a nick-name for her, don't you?" Shifting her weight to her right foot and rocking her left foot back to swing on her 3 inch high black heels as she waited and resumed playing with the pen.

"Yes." Logan refocused on the woman. "I call her 'Little Bit'."

Tilting her head to one side and looking as serious as she could, she asked. "How did she get that name?"

Logan took a deep breath and released it slowly. "That was the first 'phrase' or 'words' she said, when she was learnin how to talk. We'd ask her somethin, and she'd reply 'little bit.'"

The woman turned her body to face Rhythm and stare at the child, who was staring back at her with a cautious glare. "How did her hair get to be your hair colour?"

He knew that question was coming. He remembered that day all too well. As if he was standing in the middle of the Cajun's front yard, on a cold December morning. "Just before Christmas, two years ago, the day that Rogue left. Remy was tryin to talk to her, and I was tryin to calm Rhythm down, from cryin and screamin. It's apart of her DNA, that when her skin touches someone else's skin, things happen. For instance, the hair. That only happened from a spark of hysterics, on the girl's part, that when I picked her up, she touched my arm and her hair turned black." He stretched his legs out in front of him and rested his elbows on the arms of the chair, interlocking his fingers together in front of him.

"And, which parent did she get that from?"

"Her mother."

Stopping her fidgeting with the pen, she raised her left hand up to adjust her glasses before continuing. "Is it true that Mister LeBeau is or was a thief?" Her gaze chilled as she finished the question and resumed flipping the pen in her fingers.

"He was."

"Has he ever stolen anything in front of his child?"

"No."

Glancing over at Remy and then back to Logan, the woman decided to approach on a more personal note. "Are you single?"

"Yes."

"And, Mister LeBeau is now divorced--?"

Remy's lawyer stood up and interrupted. "Objection. This is just a custody hearing, not a dating service."

The judge nodded and sustained the objection.

The woman rephrased the question. "Since last year, when Mrs. LeBeau moved out, how many people have traveled through the house?"

"Just the kid and I." He paused and caught on to what she was getting at. "We haven't had either time or patience for datin. Our work keeps us busy, when we're called in."

"Xavier's School For Gifted Youngsters?"

"Yes."

"If Mister LeBeau was granted custody of Rhythm, would you help raise her, or let him handle it." Her tone flattened.

Matching her monotony, Logan answered. "I'd stay for as long as I was welcome, or needed."

"Thank you, no further questions." Turning on her heel and walking back to her seat, she turned to sit down as the judge had dismissed Logan from the stand.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was Erik's turn to take the stand, next.

He sat in the chair, straightly, and watched the woman lawyer lean against the table of her client. Answering questions of both Rhythm and Rogue directed, he only hesitated as it had turned to Remy.

"When Rhythm came to live with you and Mrs. LeBeau, how did she react to having you, instead of Mister LeBeau?" The woman had put her pen down on the table behind her, and folded her arms about her chest.

Clearing his throat, Erik hadn't strayed his sight from the woman. "She didn't like the idea. In fact, she refused to even acknowledge me for at least a week."

"And then what?"

Exhaling deeply, through his nose, he continued. "When she would acknowledge me, I was to address her as 'MacKensie', as 'Rhythm' was reserved for her father and Logan." He blinked and caught sight of the tiny girl staring at him from Logan's lap, out of the corner of his eye.

The woman nodded. "But, she is okay with you, now, correct?"

"Yes."

"It was mentioned earlier, that she has strong mutant powers for her young age. Have you seen them in use?" The woman pushed off of the table and came closer to him.

Erik nodded. "Yes. She has demonstrated her abilities, in the moment that her mother and I were bringing her back to live with us, on my island." He watched Rogue nod, slightly.

"What did she do, exactly?"

Erik leaned in. "She nearly blew up the building and those of us around her. She has quite the powerful gift."

"And, what did Mister LeBeau say or do, in this matter?" She glanced over her shoulder at Remy before turning back to meet Erik's gaze.

"He called her to him, from my arms, and calmed her down as he placed her into my jet and strapped her in."

The woman nodded. "And, she was fine afterwards?"

"Yes."

The woman turned around and walked back to the table to pick up the metal bracelet that lie on a stack of notes, in front of her empty chair. Holding it up so that the judge and others could see, she asked him. "What's this?"

Erik cleared his throat and shifted positions to cross his legs, left over right, before answering. "It's called an 'Inhibitor'. It keeps the child from using her powers to harm others, or her mother and I."

"And she wears this every moment of the day?"

Erik nodded. "And, the night as well. Lately, I've been teaching her how to use her powers and control her anger spurts."

Tilting her head and leaning forward, the woman was curious. "Anger spurts? That triggers her abilities?"

"To some degree, yes."

Placing the bracelet back on the table, she took her seat and added. "Nothing further."

~~~~~~~~~~~

"Mister Lensherr," Remy's lawyer stood up and began his questions. "how long have you known the LeBeaus?"

"For many years. But, a number- ? Thirty." Erik tilted his head in the direction of the man, still standing at his table.

The man picked up a piece of paper and reviewed the sorted notes he had scribbled on it. "How do you feel about having the child live with you, and Mrs. LeBeau?"

Erik was silent for a moment. "She has been a wonderful guest, and as Logan pointed out, very well-mannered. She gives us something to enjoy the day with."

"But, she's been accepted into a prestigous private school, correct?" The man looked up from his paper.

"Yes. She has earned honours in her class, and proceeds to Second Grade, this year." Folding his hands in his lap, Erik answered.

Remy's lawyer cleared his throat and continued. "Did you, also, work at the school for 'Gifted Youths'?"

"No."

"Oh." The man paused. "So, how did you and Mrs. LeBeau meet?"

"Charles Xavier is an old friend of mine. He and his students have run into me and my island several times over the years." Erik answered as calm and as plainly as he could but, felt he wasn't helping Rogue, much.

The man leaned over his desk to scribble something down on the piece of paper. "How many times do you get to see Rhythm, during the school year?" He asked without looking up from his paper.

Erik counted the times in his head. "During holidays such as Christmas, or Thanksgiving, and such."

"What about, when Rhythm has a bad day? Such as, children at school mistreating her, or a physical fight ensues? Would she get to come home, or stay at the school, and accept punishment?" He had begun to ask the dirty questions that had been plaguing his mind from previous discussions that Remy and Logan had both spoken up about.

He remembered several incidents when Rhythm had called home, from the Mother Superior's office,
and gave tearful pleas to be brought home but, was told to tough it out until visitation days. The look on Rogue's face as she had told her daughter to go back to class and dry her eyes, had been completely horrible to bare. "Children will be cruel no matter where the child is sent. If a fight happened, we'd be more than happy to retrieve her from the school, and try to work it out. However, if for some reason, we were unable to be at home, the school has very good councelours for her to talk to."

"Thank you. No further questions."

~~~~~~~~~~~

The judge dismissed Erik and ordered a fifteen minute recess while he thought about his decision. The gavel banged on the coaster as he stood as retreated to his chambers, with his notes, in hand.

Everyone stood as the judge left the room, and talked amongst themselves and each other.

Rhythm yawned and lay her head down on Logan's right shoulder, closing her eyes. Her arms fell limp beside her, as she sat on Logan's hooked right arm. His left hand rubbed her back and soothed her into a short nap. "Long day, huh, Little Bit?" He whispered, knowing she heard.

She nodded and yawned again.

Remy had taken off his suit jacket and draped it over the little girl's shivering shoulders as Logan had sat back down in his chair. "You take a res' now, petite." Patting her back, lightly, he caught Rogue's eye and moved to the back of the room to meet and speak with her, privately.

Rogue sat down on a chair and turned to face him as he took the seat next to her and faced her. "Remy, Ah-- What happened with Ben.... wasn't your fault. Ah just get so scared around her, and think it might just happen again." She lowered her gaze to her fidgeting hands in her lap, and paused.

Taking a brief look at the two lawyers who were discussing the case while standing in front of Rogue's table, with Erik. And then, turning his gaze on Logan and the covered, sleeping child in his arms. Remy sighed. "Non, dat wasn' my fault. I loved Ben so much, too, but we can' punish her for what happened. An' dat's what we're doin, Rogue." He stopped as she looked up at him. "We bot' wan' wha's bes' for her, no? She don' need us pushin her int' places she don' wan' ta be. But, we work somet'in out."
Patting her hands and standing up as the judge had re-entered the room and took his seat at the bench, he gave her a smile.

The judge had waited for the people to retake their seats before continuing. Looking about the courtroom, he had made notes to himself on the positions of the groups. His eyes fell on the tiny, napping girl on Logan's lap, and adjusted his reading glasses on his nose. Clearing his throat and
glancing up from his notes, one last time, he spoke. "After talking with the child, in my chambers, and then listening to each side's story, I think I've reached my decision. Ms. LeBeau, I don't doubt that you love your daughter, nor do I doubt that you only want what's best for her. While the best education and compassion are available at that school, what a child this young needs, is pure and simple love. I don't mean to baby her every teardrop, nor do I mean to have her face the bitter outside. From what I've understood, you and Mister Lensherr are also busy people, but I haven't heard of a parent to care for that child if placed with you." His voice was firm but sympathetic to pending feelings of hurt as he spoke to her. He turned his attentions to Remy and started to address him. "Now, Mister LeBeau. I am hoping that your thievish tendacies are behind you, and that you will take the deserved time to see that this child is reminded of her mother's love." Watching Remy silently nod, he continued. "Good. I see no reason to set a solitary custody ruling on this matter, so I will leave the visitations to the parents. Congratulations to you, and good luck."

The gavel hit the coaster one last time as the judge and group stood to leave.

Rhythm had jumped at the sharp sound, in Logan's arms, as he stood up and made his way over to Rogue. Sitting up and rubbing her eyes, she yawned and looked around in wonder at what was going on.

Remy came to stand beside Logan and offer the child time in his arms. "Y' gonn' spend de res' of de week wit' your momma, den, you comin home, Petite. Ya be good for dem, 'kay?" He asked as she yawned and rubbed at her eyes again before nodding and huggin him. "We have a party, hehn? Welcome Home, party? Den, you tell us all about school, 'kay?"

She nodded again, and turned her head to stare at Logan. "I go home wit' you?" Sitting back as his words were registering in her head.

"Friday, petite. You come home, Friday. Your momma have you fo' t'ree days, den we take ya home." He kissed her cheek and handed her over to Rogue before waving goodbye and leaving with Logan.

Rhythm waved from her mother's arms as the two men disappeared into the corridor. She was too tired to cry, or understand what just happened. But, her ears heard the words "home" and "Friday." She knew she should be excited, but only yawned and lay her head down on Rogue's shoulder to finish her nap.

Waking a half hour later, she found herself strapped into her carseat, and covered by Remy's jacket. It smelled sweet, like his cologne he had worn. Pulling it closer to her nose, she sniffed at the collar and smiled. She was finally going home.

Continued....