His eyes fluttered open, and he felt his eyelashes flicker against something. A sleepy mind thinking it just a pillow, his heart soared with delight as he realised that he was next to a warm, breathing creature, one who meant the world to him. Her white-steaked, chestnut hair fanning out on the pillow behind her, looking so young and innocent in her sleep, Remy pulled Rogue close to him as she slept, feeling utterly protective and happy in her arms. Remembering what day it was, he checked the clock. 6am. What time would Xav, and Jean's son, Charles, be up, he wondered? Pulling on a pair of jeans Bobby had lent him, he was glad he did, for Xav and a red-haired little boy came charging into the room. Putting a finger up to his mouth to shush them, the two children remained quiet to let Rogue sleep, until they were out on the corridor, where Xav started to jump up and down.
"You stay here with me and Mommy, Da?" She asked.
Remy shrugged, then nodded. "I hope so, cherie." He thought of the last night, and gave a wicked grin that was quickly banished, as were every last thought of the wonderful time that had meant he'd had about two hours sleep. Both kids grabbed his hands as he led them downstairs. He sat on the sofa, and smiled as Charles, who looked shy and kept hiding behind Xav.
"You're Charles, eh?" The boy nodded, still looking suspicious in the presence of this stranger. "Jean's a lucky lady, t' have a good kid like you. But no luckier dan me," he added as Xav cuddled up to him. "We gonna wait f' y' momma or poppa t' come down?" Charles stuck his lip out, but Remy pulled him onto the sofa with them. "I t'ink we should, or dey'll miss y' face when y' open dat Elmo y've always wanted."
"You think?" He asked, and Remy blinked, wondering where on earth he'd got that from. How had he known Charles liked Elmo? Maybe because they had matching hair... It was also the first time Charles had spoken to him.
"I t'ink so, you wanted it a while?" That was just a guess, and it got him a nod. "Oui, I t'ought so. Y' mom an' dad'll got y' whatever y' want." Charles didn't look convinced, and Remy wondered why. Jean would love him to bits, he knew that, and didn't doubt Scott did either, from the look he had on his face on their home coming. The door opened, and Jean came in, wearing a fluffy flannel night gown. She smiled at Remy, and picked up her son.
"You got accosted, then?" She asked, moving a strand of jaw-length hair from her eyes. Remy nodded, smiling.
"Yeah. I t'ink I managed t' keep dem from openin' any presents 'til one o' y' got up."
"You did well," Jean said dryly, and put her son down, handing him a bringhtly wrapped parcel. She gave another to Xavia, and smiled. "You'll have to wait for the others before you can open everything else, though," she told them, and both looked distraught.
"Mom!"
"Daddy, I can open stuff, right?" Blue eyes looked at him, tears welling in them, and Remy felt his resolve turn into a puddle of pathetic agreement.
Come on, Remy! Show some paternal authority. Jean hid a chuckle behind her hand, and Remy looked at her scornfully.
Do I have t'? He sounded as whiny as the children, and grinned at her.
"Y' have t' wait f' y' momma, cherie. She'll wanna see how much y' like de presents she got y'."
"What about what you got me," she looked pointedly at the pink parcel Remy had got on the day that felt so long ago.
Don't you dare!!
"Non, chere, I-" To his utter releif, Rogue chose that moment to enter the living room, sitting on the other side of their daughter, giving Remy a sultry look over her head, one that Jean rose her eyebrows at.
"Can I open them now!?!" Begged Xav, and Rogue nodded.
"Ya been buggin' Da?" She asked her, kneeling down next to Charles and handing her a present.
"She couldn't if she tried," Remy said, kissing his daughter's cheek. "Merry Christmas, petite."
She hugged him, then her mother, before tearing the paper off and her eyes glowed at seeing a doll with giant eyes smiling from under a ridiculously large hat. Cyclops then came it, and Jean, ready for the outburst Charles was about to make, telekinetically passed a present to him. He too opened it with utter gumption, and Remy smiled at them both, ripping off the paper as though if they didn't do it fast enough, the gifts inside would disapear. Once they were all open, the two children stared excitedly at their piles of toys, then leapt at their parents.
"Thank you, thank you!" The little girl laughed, hugging both doting parents madly. Wrapping an arm around Rogue's shoulder, Xav on his knee, they watched as the other X-Men walked in in dribs. When they were all there, Jean, mother-hen of the X-Men, allowed them to open their presents. Bobby grinned madly, throwing his newly aquired Vampirella beanie at Jubilee, who threw her rather heavier pewter statue at him. He caught it in a stream of ice, and ran off as Jubes threw firecrackers at him, yelling 'don't think I don't know what Boomer did, I know, you know!' as she ran. Beast looked pleased at the hand-decorated lab coat he'd recieved, and Betsy ran a hand over the delicate material of her new kimono.
"Guys? I t'ink maybe y' can 'preciate I didn' really have time t' buy y' anythin', so I'll get it t'morrow." Remy felt guilty as Hank thrust a box of gifts at him.
Bobby, back and apparently safe from Jubilee's clutches, grinned, decidedly evil and calculating. "Hey, that's cool. You can get us more 'cause they'll be in the sale. Can I have a Mr. Frostie machine?"
Remy wondered whether he was joking, and decided it was better not to ask. Xav was showing Bobby all the presents she'd received from various members of the household, and Remy looked uncomfortable, as only one was from him.
"Don't ya dare feel guilty," Rogue told him, her mouth close to his ear. "An' don't ya dare go buying Xav everythin' she asks for tomorrow."
"But-"
"No buts, sugah. Ah'm not havin' a spolied daughter! Ah don't care how much money ya have. Ah see ah got a lot ta teach ya 'bout this whole parent business," she smiled. Remy smiled back at her, and leaned forward to kiss her. As he did, the whole room fell silent, and he could feel their eyes on him. He also felt Rogue's lips pull back into a smile as she kissed him deeply, obviously enjoying the attention. Pulling back, Remy grinned at her, accepted Xav onto his lap, then turned to the rest of the people in the room.
Hank was the first to talk. "I see my theory was affirmative," he said, with a broad and toothy smile. "And does my offer still receive an affirmative from you?"
"Sure does, Hank," Remy answered, delighting in talking in a sort of secret code with Hank, especially Scott's bewildered look. "Dis is a new start f' me an' mine."
"Damn raht, sugah," Rogue smiled. "An' how 'bout we just go ta Harry's on Saturday? Ya can buy me presents." She paused. "If ya have ta, ah mean."
Remy laughed. "Whatever y' want is yours, girl."
"It is," she agreed, entwining her fingers with his.