1. I started to suffer writer's block. 2. The holidays brought a lot of visitiors, stress, illness, and my sig o had to have surgery. 3. My writer's block was finally removed by my list daddy who gave me a challenge and the story took on a life of its own. 4. My computer at work where I usually write got blocked and I lost a lot of information and now it's become complicated to get my stories typed up and posted.

Anyway, I've gotten everything worked out (for now) however I will still not be able to post as quickly as I used to. I'm going to try to update all my stories at least once a week.

Again, I'm really sorry for wait.

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Chapter 13

The X-men's comm badges went off calling everyone to the War Room. Remy leaned down and placed a quick kiss on Betsy's forehead. "Stay here, m'amour, y'still tired. No need t'be hurrin' 'nd gettin' dressed 'nd ready. Remy'll let you in on what 'appens."

Betsy reached up and stroked his long bangs out of his face. "Scott will not like that. He sent the call to my badge as well."

"Don' care. You ain' active so y'don' need t'be rushin' around for some meetin'. Not while you carryin' Jamie." It was something they had discussed. Upon finding out about the baby, Remy had asked her to go on the inactive list and at first Betsy had resisted the request. After all, she still had several monthes before she would start to show and slow down. Remy had pointed out, however, that she and the baby could still be hurt badly, especially by some of the threats the X-men faced on a regular basis. It terrified him that something would happen to either one of them and Betsy had, eventually, agreed and they had asked Hank to remove her from the active roster. They had both been pleased to find out that Storm had already requested it and Hank had done it of his own voilition before anyone had spoken to him.. "Be back soon, amour." Turning, he excused himself to the rest of the family and quickly left the room, passing Bishop carrying several suitcases in the hallway. Smiling, the Cajun immediately offered to help but the big man shook his head.

"Would you let Scott know I will be there in a few minutes?"

"Oui, but, Bishop, y'bette' be carfuly. Y'let Tante order y'round once 'nd she gonna keep doin' it."

The big man flashed a rare smile. "According to what I have heard of the woman, it was already too late when she welcomed me into the family." Remy laughed in agreement. "Now, I have to get these to the guest rooms quickly. I don't want to get in trouble by keeping the boss waiting."

"Y'mean Scott?"

"No, I mean Tante Mattie."

They shared another grin and Remy was still chuckling as he entered the War Room, ignoring the glares he received. Sitting next to Ororo, he let her know that Bishop would arrive in a few minutes and opened his bond with Betsy futher so she could hear and see the meeting through him. Looking around, he saw that Scott and Jean were speaking quietly in the corner, as usual. Warren, Bobby, and Hank were joking around together and Logan was glaring at him...still. Remy sighed. It would be so much easier if the short man would just admit to himself that Jubilee was not a child and let them all off the hook. However, the man was stubborn and had a hard head even without all the metal in his skeleton.

Bishop entered next and sat down next to Remy which raised a few eyebrows but the lean Cajun ignored that just as he had the glares. He did not feel the need to explain family business to his team mates and this was definitely a family matter.

The room was quiet for several more minutes and then Scott turned to Remy with an annoyed expression. "Well, we can begin as soon as Betsy gets here. What is taking her so long?"

Remy shrugged, knowing it annoyed the team leader. "She's restin'. 'M lettin' her know what's goin' on."

*Remy, you really should not be antagonizing poor Scott so much.*

Remy smirked at the admonishing tone. *But it so much fun, m'amour. Scotty too serious.*

Scott's next words brought his attention back outward. "I called this team meeting for everyone and I expect everyone to be here, no excuses. Tell her to get down here. Now."

Remy felt a wave of annoyance flow through him that even Betsy's gentle touch could not lessen. Gaining his feet, he glared down at the team leader. "Y'listen, Cyke, y'need t'start payin' attention t'a few t'ings. First, since Betsy's on Stormy's team, y'should ask her quietly if she said Betsy could skip 'fore y'start accusin' 'nd yellin' in public. Second, do y'really t'ink Betsy gonna be on the active list right now. In case y'didn' understan', Betsy is pregnant. She carryin' a chile 'nd dere is no way in hell Remy gonna risk eit'er o'dem. Remy assumed y'smart enough t'at leas' check de roster, dat 'e didn' have to 'splain she not goin' into fights. Third, you ain't my team leader, Stormy is 'nd I answer t'her, not you. Don' try t'take me t'task like dis 'gain 'less you talked t'her. It's disrespectful t'her."

There was a shocked silence in the room. No one had ever seen Remy respond in such a way before. Even more surprising, during Remy's diatribe, Bishop had also stood up, not to interfere but to stand behind the Cajun, silently showing his support.

Scott shook off his shock quickly, unhappy and embarrassed at his obvious error. The other man was correct that he should have guessed Betsy had been taken off the active roster. It was yet more proof that he had not been paying as much attention to the team as he should. However, he did not like being berated in public and he was not completely in the wrong. "Then I can assume that Storm knows about your 'guests'?"

Storm looked up at Remy from where she was still sitting. "Guests?"

Remy looked over at her with an apologetic shrug. "Oui, Tante 'nd Papa show up out o'de blue t'day."

Scott cleared his throat. "So, can I 'intelligently' assume that you did not have permission for guests? You were not smart enough to get prior approval?"

Remy glared Scott once again. "'Ow does Remy get approval when 'e don' know dey comin'?"

Before anyone else could respond, Bishop spoke up for the first time. "I would suggest that we prepare for more guests soon."

Scott turned a suprised look on the warrior from the future. "What? Why?"

"It only makes sense that family would wish to visit at a time like this and, as I understand, Elizabeth still has living family. They will be wishing to come soon to visit as well."

"So, you're saying I should have been expecting this?"

The big man shrugged. "I merely said it makes sense. It was not an assured thing or my father would not have been so surprised at their arrival." He now had everyone's attention. Bishop, however, remained as impassive as ever. Remy had accepted him back into his family and the big man was not going to hide this or be ashamed of who had raised him any longer.

Warren was the first to break the ensuing silence. "What the hell? Bishop getting along with Remy? Remy and Betsy having a kid? Scott getting yelled at? Exactly when did I fall into a parallel dimension?"

His best friend, Bobby, immediately stood up, giving the blonde his own support. "Yeah, you two should show Scott some respect. You two wouldn't even be here if not for him."

Bishop shook his head. "That is not entirely true, Robert."

At this point, Ororo stood up and laid a hand on her adopted brother's shoulder. "He does however make a point about respect. Scott asked us here to discuss something of importance. Please sit down so we can hear what it is."

Remy returned to his seat with a small smile. "Oui, Stormy."

"And don't call me Stormy."

"'Course, Stormy."

Bishop also took his seat, hiding his own amused smile.

Just then, a familiar voice spoke up from the door. "Ah'm sorry ah'm late. Ah just got in."

Everyone looked up in shock as Rogue stood in the doorway, most of them just realizing that she had been missing. Scott immediately demanded, "Where have you been?"

Rogue walked in, subdued. "Ah had t'get away for awhile. Ah'm sorry ah didn' let'you know."

"How long have you been back?"

"Just a'couple a'minutes. Ah didn' wanna interrupt anything." She quietly took her seat, not meeting anyone's eyes. "So, what's th'meetin' about."

Scott bowed his head, massaging his temples briefly. "Well, it was supposed to be about the fact that you were missing but now you're back. You still haven't told us where you've been."

"Ah would really rather not. Ah just been with a friend, gettin' m'head together. Ah really am sorry if ah worried y'all."

*What is she up to?* Remy could feel the suspicion behing the question through his link with Betsy.

*Not sure.*

*What do you feel off her?*

Remy focused on the Southern brunette, filtering out all the others' emotions until he could feel hers clearly. *De femme's nervous, embarrassed, 'nd...ashamed. She's real sad.*

*Odd.*

*Oui. Stay 'way from her if y'can. Don' trust her.*

*Yes. By the way, is what your father telling me about your first date the truth?*

*Jus' what is 'e tellin' you?*

Laughter trickled over the link. *Oh, nothing.*

Remy silently groaned. There was no telling what his family was telling her.

Meanwhile, since the purpose of the meeting had arrived, Scott dismissed the group but asked Storm to remain behind stating, "I think we have some things to discuss."

The regal woman's tone was smooth and controlled as she replied, "Yes, that would probably be best."

Remy quickly left the room, Bishop trailing and returned to his room to try to control how many embarrassing stories his lover was hearing from his loving family. Feeling her amusement rising, he cringed. Apparently, he was probably already too late.

Jean Luc was in the middle of yet another story when he opened the door. "So, de girl's top is gone 'nd 'er fat'er is lookin' mad. Remy jus' give an innocent smile 'nd say, 'Well, dat's what we was wonderin' too. Mebbe de 'ssassins pick dem selves up a speedster. Gonna be real trouble if de pick up someone dat fast.'"

"How did her father respond to that?"

"De man actually buy it so I have one o' my best t'ieves spendin' de next month tryin' t'find out exactly who de 'ssassin is wit' super speed."

"You can not be serious."

Remy took the opportunity to interrupt and sat down next to her, wrapping his arms around her. "Oui, but it work out real good. De fat'er, he find out plenty of info 'bout de 'ssassins 'nd even found out 'bout a turncoat in our guild. Even bette', 'e so busy chasin' 'ssassin, 'e didn' have time t'be keepin' track of 'is family. Made it real easy for 'is little girl t'sneak out. Now, 'm t'inkin' Betsy here needs to get dressed."

Betsy blushed slightly. She had been having so much fun talking with Remy's family, she had forgotten that she was still in her kimono. "That would probably be a good idea. Then we can show you around the mansion."

Remy immediately put on a disapproving face. "'M not sure I want you 'round dem anymore. De tellin' too many stories."

Betsy laughed up at him. "Well that is too bad. However, if you are very good, I will make it up to you later."

Desire burned brightly in the lean Cajun as he held her tighter. "Remy gonna 'old you to dat. But, y'still gotta get dressed."

"I will show them to the guest rooms." The couple smiled gratefully at Bishop's offer and the older Cajuns smiled in understanding as they followed the large man out the door, closing it behind them.

Remy immediately covered Betsy's mouth with his own, flooding her senses with his love and desire for her as his hand worked underneath her kimono to lightly stroke her bare skin. Turning slightly so she could wrap her arms around his shoulder, Betsy leaned into the kiss, sucking on his tongue as she pulled his shirt up, reaching for the smooth skin underneath.

Just then, they were interrupted by a knock on the door and Remy groaned in annoyance, nuzzling the crook of Betsy's neck. "Ignore dem?"

The knock came again and Betsy made a disappointed sound of her own. "Apparently that is not an option. Go answer the door. After all, the sooner we deal with them, the sooner we can...deal with each other." Her lips curved up into a seductive smile that Remy could not resist tasting before he stood up, seeing the logic of her statement.

At the door, he paused for a moment to check and make sure Betsy had straightened out her kimono before opening it. Looking into the hallway, the thief was caught flat-footed with surprise, an extreme rarity. However, standing in the doorway was the last person he expected.

"May Ah come in? Just fer a minute?" Rogue's voice was soft and polite surprising the Cajun even further.

However, surprise or not, his natural caution made him remain between the two women. "Why? What're y'wantin'?"

"Ah just wanna say somethin'. That's all Ah promise. Ah just wanna tell you an' Betsy a few things then Ah'll leave. Ah swear."

Remy felt his suspicion of the Southern belle echoed by the woman behind him but he still could not sense any anger or maliciousness off the other woman. *What d'you t'ink?"

Betsy gave a mental shrug. *As long as we live here, we are going to have to deal with her. Besides, I will admit to being curious.*

Remy stepped to the side allowing the woman to step inside the room. It was not a welcoming gesture but Remy saw no reason to pretend that Rogue was in any way welcome.

Rogue stepped inside, not eagerly but with a quiet determination that further aroused the other two's curiousity. "Ah wanted to say Ah few things. To both of ya. Ah been thinkin' alot these past few days and Ah realized you were right in a lotta ways. Ah neve' faced what Ah did. Didn' want to 'cause Ah was afraid. Ah cain' change what happened an' Ah don' expect y'all to believe me or forgive me. But, Ah wanted t'say Ah'm sorry. Ah'm sorry f'r tryin' t'kill you, Remy. It don' matter if you were mind controlled or not, Ah had no right t'judge ya like that 'nd try t'kill ya. Ah'm sorry Ah didn' try to listen t'ya an' let ya explain. Betsy was right. If Ah had really loved ya, Ah would have tried. Ah'm also sorry Ah tried to run ya outta the house. An', Betsy, Ah'm sorry for all the bad things Ah said t'ya. Ah'm sorry Ah lied 'bout ya an' accused ya of sleepin' with Remy 'fore ya actually were. Ah cain' say Ah'm glad y'all are together but that's jus' jealousy on mah part an' Ah admit it. But, Ah do wanna tell y'all congratulations on the baby an' Ah hope everything goes well. Now, Ah'm gonna jus' leave." Before Remy or Betsy could say a word, Rogue left the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

Remy stared over at Betsy who shrugged her shoulders in response. "Do you think she meant it?*

*She felt like she meant it. But, Remy don' know.*

They quietly spoke about it for several more minutes before deciding that they would say nothing about it. If she was being honest, that would be welcomed but they were not going to trust her any time soon. Good intentions or not, there was too much history, and she was too potentially dangerous.

Betsy stood up and gathered some clothes before heading to the bathroom. *Unfortunately, we now do not have the time to play.*

Remy followed her into the bathroom, admiring her body through the shower door. *Why not?*

*Remy, we have already kept your family waiting almost an hour.*

*So?*

*What will they be thinking?*

Remy laughed. *Pere will be t'inkin' Remy is one lucky 'omme.*

Betsy sighed. *Remy.*

*Remy understan', amour. 'Sides, de way dis day is goin', we'll 'ave some someone else knockin' on de door in a few minutes. Neve' seen a day so full of people wantin' t'talk. Wonder when de newest super villian gonna come knockin' on de gate wantin' a meetin'.*