And for Americans and other aliens, my outburst at the start of the last chapter was based on Jim Royle of the Royle family, the epitome of the Bristish male. 'My arse' is his catchphrase, and is used without permission, as is everything else.That's my version of a disclaimer for this chapter.
Stepping out of Macy's, carefully carrying a armload of purchases, Remy LeBeau dumped them into the boot of the Corrolla he'd borrowed from Rogue, along with a great pile of gifts already bought. With a smirk, he shut the boot and looked up, noticing a bookstore across the street, and crossed, taking out the printout Hank had given him of books he needed to read.
It was a wonderful bookshop, almost as amazing as FAO Schwartz. Looking thru the fiction, Remy picked up all the titles he'd always wanted to read but never got around to; The God of Small Things, Sophie's World, The Odyssey, Memoires of a Geisha, everything he could find by Jonothan Carroll, then he wandered into the children's section, bought the two Harry Potter books Xav didn't have, and some classics he'd loved reading to his little cousins in the clan, and knew he'd have loved them. Onto the pile went The Hungry Catapilar, Where the Wild Things Are, and Little Miss Clever. He did pick up The Story of the Little Mole but put it back, not quite beleiving it was for real. Then, climbing the stairs to the education section, he picked up several of the ones Hank had underlined, that he should have a look at. After flicking thru them, he added them to the pile, as well as a book about black holes, ancient cultures, and, because it was amusing and in a completely inappropriate place, Star Trek:The Guide to Aliens.
Trying not to hear or see the price of the lot, he handed his Amex over, and ignored the charming womaniser in his brain shouting his disbelief at Remy actually acting intelligent. Arms screaming at the weight of the twenty or so books, Remy threw them on the back seat and placed his new Divine Comedy CD into the player as he relaxed. Hoping fervently that the X-Men would like his gifts, he drove off.
"I know y'all dyin' f' y' second Christmas, but I need t' say some stuff first. I'd like t' say thank y' to all a' y', f' acceptin' me, f' f'givin' me. I know y've had a long time t' think about it, an' so have I. I'm sorry f' lyin' t' y'all." His eyes darkened, his chest tightened as a vivid flashback of his scream at the sight of the massacre came to him. "An' I'm sorry f' ev't'in' I did." Picking up a package from the floor, he handed it to Kitty. "I'd like t' give dis t' you, petite. 'Cause y' forgave easily, an' because y' a won'ful person. Merci." With a grin at the fact that no-one had spoken up or punched him, Remy stood aside to let the X-Men at their presents. Picking up a small one in silver wrapping, he walked slowly over to Ororo. Without a word, he handed it to her. It hurt very much to be here with her after what he had just said, the memories haunting him. She took the gift, curiosity in the wonderful blue cats-eyes, not blame. Not for the first time, he wondered how she had forgiven him, then with a smile, remembered why he had thought the gift perfect for her. Because of her unfailing love of her goddess, her Bright Lady. That everything that existed, existed in balance, and tho he had caused a lot of pain, he had done a lot of good, and would continue to do so. So everything would fall into balance.
"Oh, Remy. It is beautiful!" She kissed his cheek, fitting the thin silver ring onto her finger. It glittered wonderfully, it's ruby a deep, wine colour, the lapiz that highlighted it just as glorious with the copper veins running thru it.
"F' de attribute's o' de gems, I'm sure y' know. Ruby f' balance an' love, which y' have in abundance, an' de lapiz f' de same, as well as t' protect y', and t' t'ank y' f' y' infinate compassion. Y' a better friend dan I deserve, 'Ro. Y' really are."
"Hardly, Remy. You deserve what you have. Everything that you have, brother." With that last, she smiled a beautiful smile, and Remy wrapped his arms around her. That she would call him that showed how deeply she cared for him, and Remy was truly grateful to her. Pulling back, he took the hand with the ring on.
"I also t'ought de ruby would match de one on y' uniform," he told her. "I know, I know. It ain't as magical - a portal t' M'rin an' her world, ain't dat right?" Storm's startled look was answer enough. "But I hop y' like it an'way."
"I love it, Remy. Thank you, very much. Though I would like very much to discover how you know about M'rin." Looking a little past Remy with a smile, she finished. "But, another time, I think." Remy turned, picked his daughter up, who stood forlornly.
"What's wrong, cherie?"
She sniffed, wiping at her eyes. "Did you forget me?" She asked, big blue eyes wide and sad.
"Non! Don' ever say dat, Xav." He kissed her cheek, then knelt down next to the biggest pile of all. "Dese are for you, ma petite. All o' dem." Hearing a laugh beside him, he turned to look at Rogue, her shoulder length hair free, making her look wild and wonderful. Jade eyes amused, and trying to look disapproving but failing miserably.
"So much for not spolin' her, huh sugah?"
Bringing her into his arms, he held her tightly, and they watched Xav as she opened her gifts with bright eyes. "My little girl is gon' get ev't'in' she wants," Remy smiled, running a hand over Xavia's soft hair.
"Ah don't think so, sugah!" Smiling at him, Rogue chuckled. "Why am ah botherin' ta argue with ya?"
"Je ne sais pas, cherie. I always win."
Laughing, Rogue decided not to rise to the bait and merely sat and delighted in Xavia's gifts with her. Xavia looked with wide eyes at the colourful pictures in the books, squeeled with delight at the teddies and cartoon ponies. The were several pokemon in there - the ones Remy remembered were her favorites, a cute little outfit. As she opened yet another present, Remy sat next to Rogue.
"Y' t'ink she likes 'em?" He asked her in a quiet voice, and Rogue looked at him with happiness in her eyes.
"Rem, look at her! Ah'm not sure ah've ever seen her so happy. An' that's 'cause o' you." Wrapping an arm around his waist and resting her head on his shoulder. Feeling insanely happy and at home, Remy realised that the same applied to him. He'd never been so happy, and it was all because of his new family. It was still dreamlike and unreal, and he both expected and dreaded to wake up any second. It wasn't just his family who made this all seem unreal. The whole school thing - the chance as well as his willingness. So much he never dreamed he'd have, and here it was. Feeling happy with the dreamlike feeling as long as it meant he wouldn't have to wake, he accepted it. Nuzzling Rogue's neck, delighted at the feel of it, she pushed him away, but not before he noticed the passionate sparkle there. Reaching out to their little girl, she pulled her over to them.
"Now, whaddaya say to yoah Da?" She asked, and Xav hugged Remy tightly, and thanked him, loudly and repetitively. Then she thrust a Charmander at him and told him all about it. She then picked up a Pokemon video she'd got from Bobby and put it on. Remy watched with utter confusion, a mix of odd creatures, bright colours, and lots of women who looked exactly the same. Entertaining notions that might not be all that bad, he pushed it away - even if they were all Rogue, one was more than enough to cope with.
"Was dat great?!?" Xav asked, and Remy couldn't help his grin at her picking up his accent while Rogue rolled her eyes. Xavia adored him, almost as much as he adored her, he smiled.
"Oui, cherie. Odd, but great." He then stood, and offered a hand to each woman. They took them, and he pulled them to the car.