Title: Ghosts of the past 7

Author: Morgana (morganalebeau@yahoo.com)

Website: http://www.oocities.org/morganalebeau/

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Ghosts of the past

By Morgana

 

Chapter Thirty-Six

No longer able to pretend being asleep, she peeked through half closed eyelids. The dimmed lights were bearable and she tried to take in most of the room. It was an exam room, but unlike Sinister's. She didn't see any of Essex' usual tools of torture.
A presence approached and she quickly closed her eyes again. She didn't know what to expect and felt extremely vulnerable. The door opened and someone stepped inside, softly humming a melody.
She peeked again and recognized the blue furred mutant who had carried her out of the plane. Slightly intimated by his presence, she tried to lie perfectly still. First, she had to find out what he wanted from her.
"I know you are awake, young lady," Hank said and looked gravely at her. He'd picked up on her changed breathing and the tremors, which gently rocked her body. //It's amazing,// he thought, //even her behavior reminds me of Remy!// Briefly, he felt a sharp stabbing hate, aimed at Sinister for what the madman had done to them.
Reminding himself that the girl probably was an empath, he brought his anger under control. Remy's story led him to believe that she might not only be an empath, but also a telepath, as Remy had stated that he had heard her voice in his head.
"I'm Henry McCoy," he introduced himself. "And like Remy, I am an X-Man." Although her eyes remained closed, the monitor told Hank that she had heard him. Her heartbeat had suddenly quickened. //She's scared,// he realized.
"Yes, I am a doctor, but I am NOT like Mister Sinister," he stated resolved. "I will treat you with respect while looking after your injuries and? I care about my patients."
Hesitantly, she opened her eyes. His thoughts mirrored his words and she didn't sense any deceit or desire to hurt her in his mind. However, she wasn't convinced yet.
A smile crossed Hank's face, seeing her hesitant reaction. At least she was reacting and willing to listen to him. He remained at a distance, as he wanted her to feel comfortable and not threatened. "Can I safely assume that you are an empath as well as a telepath?"
She couldn't explain why, but for some reason she was inclined to answer him. This man radiated warmth and trust and she couldn't find a reason to be scared of him. It was hard to remain suspicious under these circumstances. Still cautious, she only nodded her head to confirm his words.
Pleased, Hank asked, "Tell me, young lady, do you also have a name?"
A name? Yes, she'd had a name once? many years ago, but what had it been?
"My question upsets you," Hank realized and wondered why. It had seemed such an innocent question! What had Essex done to this girl? It infuriated him that the man dared to call himself a scientist! He was a criminal and murderer!
"Do you remember your name?" he asked again, giving her the time she needed to process the question. How long had she been Sinister's prisoner?
Her eyes searched the room again, afraid that Essex might enter any moment now to shatter this illusion of safety. Could she trust this man? Could she trust an X-Man? //Remy seems to trust them?// She had read that much in his mind.
"Your name, or do you want me to chose a name for you?" Hank waited patiently. He failed to imagine what she was feeling right now, but he knew that she needed time to adjust to this situation.
Finally, she allowed McCoy to lock eyes with her. His eyes were kind and gentle. //I like him?// she realized. He was the first kind soul she'd met in? how many years? She was still hesitant to speak however, and wondered what her voice would sound like after 4 years of silence. Essex had forbidden her to speak aloud and after he had placed her in the tank she had needed an oxygen mask to survive. She had been unable to speak back then, but now??
"Do you remember your name?" Hank repeated his question. She wasn't responding and that worried him greatly. Her pained expression took him aback.
Her name? yes, she remembered her name; the name her parents had given her 40 years ago.
"I won't hurt you," Hank assured her. "You are an empath. You should know I am sincere."
It wasn't that she didn't trust him, she did. The little she had sensed in his mind had convinced her of his good intentions, but she hesitated to reveal anything personal. He didn't know who and what she was and she wanted to keep it that way.
After gathering her courage she looked into his eyes, finding them honest and sincere. Finally, she whispered the name that Essex had taken away from her. "Emily? Emmy," which was the nickname her parents had given her.
Hank smiled warmly, realizing how hard that had been on her. "Thank you, Emily or do you want me to call you Emmy? That's a beautiful name."
"Emmy," she replied instantly, confused and deeply touched that he had said it in such a gently tone. Her father had used that tone before things had gone terribly wrong.
Gingerly, she returned the smile. After 22 years of being Essex' prisoner, she desperately wanted to believe that she was free and safe from Sinister.
Hank took one step closer and halted. She didn't seem frightened and he continued to smile. She reminded him of a wounded animal, which had been mistreated for years.
"I had to examine you, Emmy," he said, using the name on purpose to make her feel a little more comfortable. "You're suffering from exhaustion and that's why I had to hook you up to an IV. But provided you rest, you should be able to take a first walk in a few days."
Silently, she absorbed the information and then struggled to sit up. The IV hampered her, but in the end she rested her back against the pillows without his help. "Can? I? go? outside?" she whispered. Her voice sounded alien to her own ears. "Please?" It had been so many years since she'd seen the sun and the moon and she craved feeling their beams on her skin.
"Not yet, Emmy," Hank said compassionately. He hated to disappoint her but, "You need to regain your strength first."
She sensed that he would have indulged her if he'd thought that she were up to it and that reassured her. "Where? am?I?" she still struggled to form words.
"Westchester," Hank replied, eager to answer her questions. He needed to establish contact with her and had to prevent her from slipping away again.
"And? Nathaniel?" she asked afraid.
Briefly, Hank was confused, but then remembered that Sinister's real name was Nathaniel Essex. "We don't know for sure if he's died, but he seemed rather lifeless when we left his base."
Relieved, she released the breath she had been holding. Even if Essex had survived, he would need time to recuperate before coming after her. "And? Remy?" Concerned, she reached out for him, but failed in establishing a connection. Maybe he was too far away, or he had raised his shields? "Please? tell me?"
Pleased that she showed an interest in Remy's well being, Hank nodded his head. "I already discharged him from the med lab. He's fine. He did tell me that he would like to talk to you once you are up to receiving visitors."
"Don't?" she whispered upset. I don't? want to? talk to? him!" She couldn't bear the thought of talking to Remy. "He's safe?now." No, she didn't want him to come down here!
Her reaction surprised Hank and he was about to ask her why she was this resolved to avoid Remy, when someone knocked on the door.
She flinched, hearing the unfamiliar sound.
Hank realized that everything was unfamiliar to her and that she still needed to readjust to her new situation. She could have all the time she needed. "It's Warren," he explained, as his friend stepped inside. "He's currently helping me out in the med lab." After a moment's thought, he added, "He's a friend, Emmy."
She really wanted to believe him, but she still feared that Sinister had located her and was now using a disguise to get close to her. Essex had ways to hide his mind from her.
"Yes, she might like a cup of tea," Hank said approvingly, as Warren waited for his permission to offer it to her.
Stunned, Warren stared at the girl in the bed. She couldn't be much older than 18 and looked deadly afraid of him. //Wonder if her voice resembles Remy's as well.//
Warren's eyes reflected his curiosity, but again she failed to detect any evil in his mind and she relaxed slightly.
"Yes, thought you might want some tea," Warren said apologetically. She seemed strangely lost and although she looked like Gambit, he tried not to be prejudiced. It shouldn't matter who or what she was. Even if she was a clone, he was determined to treat her with respect. He'd learned his lesson.
"Thank? you," she whispered awkwardly. She had lived an isolated life for many years and didn't know how to act in their presence. Her hands felt cold and the tea would warm them, but as she tried to lift her right hand, she realized that it was shaking badly. She would spill the tea all over the bed. "I? can't?"
"Let me help you," Warren offered a little shyly.
She pulled up the warming blanket to her shoulders and tried to shut out his loneliness that battered against her mental walls. His loneliness mirrored hers and eventually, she managed to push it away.
Hank had monitored them closely, surprised by the hidden interaction. Her gestures? Warren's response? He liked what he saw! "I still need to update my medical files," he announced. "Emmy, Warren will keep you company."
"No!" Emily and Warren exclaimed simultaneously, but Hank smiled and walked out of the room with a grin on his face.
In silence, they stared at each other. It was hard to tell who felt more uncomfortable. Warren tried to hide his insecurity and she didn't remember how to hide behind her mask.
Eventually, Warren made the first step as he sat down on the side of the bed. "Drink your tea before it cools off too badly. Can I take your hand and??"
She remained motionless. Sinister had never asked her permission! How should she react? A long time ago, these things had been easy, but she'd forgotten about the life she had led before Sinister had gotten to her.
"I think you'll like the tea. It's the professor's favorite blend." Her silence made him feel uneasy and her red on black eyes reminded him of Remy the entire time.
Awkwardly, she nodded her head. Warren was acting so politely and she didn't want to upset him. "Yes, you can," she whispered and tried lifting her hand again. This time, she managed to raise it one inch from the bed.
Gently, Warren curled his fingers around hers and pushed the mug into her icy cold hand. "Want another warming blanket?"
She trembled as his fingers touched her skin. Steeling herself, she succeeded in locking out his thoughts. She didn't want to infringe on his privacy, but it had been so long since she had been exposed to other people!
Warren guided the mug to her lips and allowed her to sip from it. He felt really grateful that Hank had allowed him to help out in the med lab. Now that Betsy had left him, he needed to focus on something, He needed a new purpose!
Relishing the warmth that slid down her throat, she tried not to stare at his face. //His blue face? why does he have blue skin?//
"Why are you crying?" Warren asked, as tears crept down her face. Her watered eyes were pools of sadness and he stopped himself just in time, as he wanted to soothingly stroke her hair.
"Crying?" she asked puzzled. She wasn't crying? or was she?
Warren wished he knew her name and was perplexed when she suddenly addressed him, her tone barely audible.
"It's Emily? Emmy."
"And I'm Warren." So it was true. Hank had told him that he suspected she was an empath and a telepath. Looked like McCoy had been right again!

Simultaneously, Bobby and Jono opened their eyes. They had enjoyed every second of their shared dreams.
//Had a blast, love,// Jono cast into his lover's mind and cringed. The bandages were back in place and his voice gone.
"Are you all right?" Bobby asked and looked at his lover's bandaged face. "I love you, Jono."
//There will be other nights,// Jono stated, trying hard to deal with the terror of waking up and finding his face and chest ripped apart again. //Other dreams.//
Slowly, he calmed down and realized how lucky he was. He would doubtlessly spend a large part of his life asleep, sharing Bobby's dreams and in those dreams he would be whole! //I'm fine, love?// Jono reassured his lover. //Just give me a moment to readjust.//
Still concerned, Bobby leaned in closer and kissed the bandages, remembering how Jono's lips had tasted in his dreams. "We could snuggle up to each other and go back to sleep."
//No, love,// Jono berated him softly. //Yer need to check on yer teammates. Maybe Gambit's back?//
"Remy!" Bobby exclaimed, upset that he'd forgotten about his friend. His stomach growled and apologetically, he looked at Jono. "Would you mind getting me some breakfast?"
//Want me to bring it up to yer room?//
"Yes!" Bobby jumped out of bed, offered Jono his right hand and pulled him to his feet. "Will be back ASAP," he promised, "and then we'll find out if you can use my mind to taste bacon and eggs!"
Feeling a little overwhelmed, Jono stared at the floor. //Yer would do that for me?//
"Yes," Bobby reassured him and pressed one more kiss on the bandages.
//Love? Before yer leave yer might want to change yer jammies!// Jono called out as Bobby disappeared into the bathroom.
"You know, Jono. I might get you some matching jammies!"
Jono whimpered?

 

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Remy woke up first, feeling totally rested and comfortable. He relished his lover's closeness and kept his eyes tightly shut, holding onto the body heat they shared. //Ain' getting' out of bed!//
Sometime during the night, their positions had changed and Logan had moved into his arms instead. He didn't usually end up holding his lover, lying spooned against him and Remy cherished the moment.
In his sleep, Logan subconsciously broadcasted his emotions and Remy smiled, realizing the deep underlying tone of passion. "Havin' an erotic dream, cher? Hope I am in it!" he quipped softly. Logan didn't stir and Remy gently kissed the back of his lover's neck.
Experiencing a sudden rush of lust, doubtlessly provoked by his kiss, Remy realized something about his lover. Logan had kept back his lust, his desire for these last few weeks and that pained him. "You're still 'fraid to hurt me," he whispered in a choked tone.
"'nough! You deserve better!" he mumbled determinedly. He would give his lover what he needed. Logan shouldn't be holding back and he wanted to please his lover. But that meant taking a huge step.
Still wavering, his right hand stole over Logan's body. His lover was already erect and his fingers closed hesitantly over Logan's arousal. Through the fabric of the sweatpants, he continued to stroke Logan's shaft. Logan whimpered softly and the sensual sound awakened his own sexual hunger.
"Want to make you cum, cher," he whispered and felt at a loss. If he were really going to do this he would have to trust his empathic abilities to guide him through it. They'd become part of his soul and he couldn't simply switch them off.
His empathy would also tell him what Logan really desired. Eager to please, he tried to slip his hand underneath the waistband. //Mais, what if I lose control over my empat'y?// he thought distressed.
"Remy? What the hell is yer hand doin' in my pants?" Logan growled and opened his eyes. He'd been awake for a few moments now, but had been curious about Remy's plans. Nimble fingers stopped stroking his shaft and pulled back.
Logan successfully fought the remnants of desire and turned around to face his lover.
"Please make love to me," Remy whispered pleadingly, as Logan's eyes locked with his.
Instinctively, Logan took hold of Remy's hand and rubbed the knuckles. The amount of pain in those red eyes worried him. "Why is this suddenly so important to ya?"
Remy caressed his lover's face and unintended, the truth slipped from his lips. "I need to know if you still want me after? after?"
"Let it go," Logan advised. //Know yer keepin' back? If Sinister raped ya, I'll go back and tear his body apart!// The skin underneath his fingertips trembled and he said, "After?"
Remy desperately tried to keep the shameful truth inside, but he couldn't lie to Logan. Funny, he'd always assumed he would get away with telling Logan a white lie, but he couldn't even come up with one! As he looked into his lover's blue eyes, his courage deserted him and he whispered the truth. "Sinister tried to rape me."
Logan's heart missed a beat and he needed all his discipline to keep in control of his rage. //The bastard!// Lost for words, he stared into Remy's clouded eyes and simply enfolded the younger man in a hug.
//Anythin' I say now will sound like crap,// Logan realized embittered. //Words are meaningless.// He had to find another way to comfort Remy and to help his lover deal with this. "Remy, is that why ya wanna make love? To know for sure that I still want ya?" Logan asked concerned.
"Need to know I don' disgust you, cher," Remy admitted in a shaky tone. "Need to know dat it doesn' make a difference to you dat Sinister?" his voice trailed off.
Logan sighed, understanding Remy's emotional turmoil. "Yeah, we'll make love," he decided and licked a tear off Remy's face. "But," he added to tamper his lover's enthusiasm, "we'll set up some rules first."
"Rules?" Remy popped himself up on one elbow. "What rules?" He didn't like the turn this conversation had taken.
Smelling Remy's growing discomfort, Logan eyed his lover closely. What was going on in Remy's mind? "Ya don't like that idea?"
After moistening his lips, Remy whispered, "Sinister had rules too," and he hoped he hadn't offended his lover.
Angry with himself, Logan cursed softly. He should have known it would be something like that! "Not those kinda rules," he said soothingly.
Confused, Remy tried to make sense of his lover's words and emotions.
"Lemme explain this to ya." Logan pushed himself into a sitting position and started to gently massage Remy's tense shoulder muscles.
"Go on," Remy whispered. His courage was fading fast.
"Rule number one. If you want to stop, you'll tell me. If I want to stop, I will tell you. We'll just say stop and we will stop." Logan hoped the Cajun understood what he was trying to say. Remy was giving him desperate looks. "Just--- say--- stop."
"Stop?" Remy repeated and relaxed slightly. "I like dat rule." It made him feel a little safer.
"Thought ya would!" Logan quipped and smiled compassionately. "Rule number two. Ya won't use any walls to shut out yer empathy. I want ya to feel what I feel. Will make it easier on ya."
"You sure 'bout dat?" Remy asked questioningly. This was a bad idea! "What if I lose control?" Suddenly, he found himself asking the question aloud that had upset him minutes earlier.
"Losin' control scares ya." Logan suddenly realized what was really upsetting Remy. //Damn!//
"Oui, wid de charm?"
"Yer charm is gone," Logan reminded him. Damn, his suspicions were correct! "I won't force ya, Remy."
"Oui, mais what if -I- lose control and?" Remy grew silent. He couldn't speak the words?
"Ya 'fraid ya gonna rape me, Remy? Is that it?" Logan whispered in disbelief.
"Oui," Remy confirmed. He'd heard of victims, which had turned into abusers. "What if I turn into someone like Sinister? Don' want to hurt you, cher." The admission took a lot out of him and he trembled in Logan's arms.
"Remy?" Logan sighed distressed. They still had a long way ahead of them. Damn Sinister for kidnapping Remy! Damn Sinister for inserting that cylinder underneath his lover's skin! Damn him!
"Cher?" Remy whispered, afraid that Logan's anger was directed at him.
"Ya won't turn into a monster, Remy," Logan said eventually. "Trust me and use yer empathy."
Remy's head dropped in defeat.
"Rule number three," Logan continued in a strangled tone. "We're gonna be honest 'bout this and we'll be honest the entire time. If I do somethin' ya don't like, ya will tell me. I'll do the same."
"D'accord," Remy mumbled, knowing only too well that Logan's mind was set on doing things his way. "Any more rules?" Disencouraged, he played with the ends of the sheet.
"Those are gonna be our rules. Ya got somethin' to add, darlin'?" He hoped that Remy understood why he was doing this. They needed these rules!
Remy felt lost, but pondered Logan's question. His lover's rules covered everything he was worried about, but? "You'll stop me when I lose control?"
"Oh, Remy!" Logan sighed exasperated. //Ya need to have faith in us!//
"Promise me!"
"Kay, should someone lose control, the other will stop him." Reluctantly, he agreed to rule number 4.
Relieved, Remy looked into his lover's saddened eyes. "Now what?"
"Do ya still wanna make love?" Logan already knew the answer. This conversation had calmed his lover down and the desire to please him at any cost had diminished. //Good! Everythin' is in the open now. No more secrets!//
Nervously rubbing his hands, Remy lifted his eyes and whispered, "Not sure."
"Give it time, Remy. It will happen once the time's right." Logan kissed his lover's lips and Remy moaned softly. "I will always want ya, darlin'."
"Merci," Remy whispered, hearing the reassurance. He'd been so afraid that once Logan knew that Sinister had attempted to rape him, things would be different. But he had been wrong and he could never tell his lover just how much that meant to him. "Nobody ever loved me like dis," he tried, "unconditionally."
Logan smiled. "Remy, ya loved me unconditionally all 'long and I love ya for that."
Remy rested his back against his lover's chest and planned on enjoying the rest of the massage now they'd talked things out, but?
"Remy? Logan?"
A soft growl escaped Logan's lips, hearing the intrusion. "Drake!"
"Logan!" Bobby exclaimed. "Can I come inside? Are the two of you all right?"
"He's worried, cher," Remy said, sensing Bobby's concern and before he knew what he had done, he had sent that concern to Logan, as if to convince him that they should talk to Bobby.
He never expected to feel Drake's concern and raised an eyebrow. Their talk and the rules appeared to have lifted a heavy burden from Remy's shoulder. What other surprises lay in store for him? He shivered, trying to imagine what it would be like if they made love, without Remy being scared or nervous. //Heaven.//
"Cher?" Remy whispered, reading that desire in Logan's mind and suddenly? //You want me to seduce you?// It was an unexpected revelation, which he read in his lover's mind, followed by a sensual image.
//An image? I can' receive images!// he thought startled. Logan was on all fours and he was thrusting into his lover's willing body. Shaking his head, Remy tried to clear it of the image. Logan couldn't possibly want to be taken! But his empathy had never lied before! What if he had picked up on some hidden desire on Logan's part? //Mon Dieu! I can' take him!//
"Remy?" Logan grabbed his lover's shoulders and shook him gently. "What's gotten ya so far 'way? Drake is still poundin' on the door and?"
"Bobby, come 'side," Remy called out, still a little shaken from that particular image that was now fading to black in his mind. Mon Dieu! Logan had urged him to thrust harder and to bite in his neck! Had the image really come from Logan or was it one of his own fantasies? Trust yer empathy, Logan had said? but was he ready to do that? If that was what Logan really wanted, could he give that wild, unbridled passion to his lover?
Hearing Remy's voice calmed him down and Bobby opened the door. As he stepped inside, he grinned broadly. Logan sat upright in the bed and Remy had rested his back against the powerful chest. Strong fingers massaged Gambit's shoulders and although Remy looked a little lost, it was obvious that he enjoyed Logan's attention. "You're back!" Bobby whispered relieved. "I was so worried!" Slowly, he advanced on the two men. "Can I sit down?"
"Sure, mon ami," Remy replied and patted the spot next to him. "So, you worried about Remy?" he said playfully. Other, more powerful emotions, hiding underneath Bobby's concern lured him closer. "Tell me," he said eventually. Oui, Bobby was worried about him, but something else had happened as well.
"I'm gonna explode if I can't tell you!" Bobby admitted in a guilty tone. "But first I wanna know if you're fine. Did Sinister hurt you?"
Remy shook his head. "I'll survive, Bobby." Behind him, Logan dug into a sore muscle and he flinched. His lover didn't like him telling white lies!
"You're sure you don't mind me bouncing off the bed with happiness?" Bobby inquired guiltily. He wanted to tell them about Jono!
"Oui, I'm sure," Remy assured him. "You're in love, Bobby."
"Yeah right, you're an empath. You'd know," Bobby quipped amused. "His name is Jonothan Starsmore."
"Chamber from gen. X?" Logan interrupted him.
"Yeah!" Bobby exclaimed triumphantly. "And he loves me! And I love him! It's? incredible! I'm so afraid that I'll wake up and find him gone!"
"Chamber's a telepath, ain't he?" Logan asked and concentrated on a nub of tense muscles underneath Remy's left shoulder blade.
"Yes, Jono can't talk. When his powers manifested they blew away part of his face and chest, but his mind voice? Oh my!" Bobby blushed.
"I'm happy for you," Remy said and smiled warmly. Bobby's feelings spoke of nothing but love and affection for his new lover. "When can I meet him?"
Bobby sighed relieved. He hadn't been sure how the others would react, but he had counted on Logan and Remy to understand. "He's fetching me breakfast right now!"
"Ya got the boy trained already?" Logan quipped. "The poor kid!"
Remy's eyes almost popped out of their sockets as Logan's fingers pressed into the tense muscles. "Ouch! What are you doin'? Dat hurt!" But he couldn't deny that some of the tension had now left his back.
"Ya need to loosen those muscles, darlin'," Logan admonished him. "I might give ya a full body massage after breakfast!" he hinted and jumped out of the bed. "Gonna get dressed and then we're gonna eat somethin'!" Marching out of the room, he gave Bobby and Remy a moment of privacy.
Bobby had calmed down a little now that they seemed delighted that he'd found the right lover. "You don't look that great, Remy," he said honestly. Dark circles showed underneath the alien eyes and Gambit was a little too pale in his opinion. "Sinister?"
Remy grew pensive. Although he had told Logan the truth, he didn't plan on telling Bobby as well. "Bein' dere brought back bad memories," he said eventually.
"If there's anything I can do, just ask."
"Merci, Bobby, but I have to do dis on my own."

 

Chapter Thirty-Eight

In the med lab, Emily tossed and turned in the bed. McCoy had urged her to get more sleep, but her feet itched to feel grass underneath them. After all these years, she didn't want to be confided to another med lab!
She drew in a deep breath and reached a decision. According to the clock it was 0630 and she assumed everybody had turned in. After pushing back the warming blanket, she looked at her body and cursed Sinister. She would never get any older, her body had stopped aging a long time ago and they had no idea how old she really was. //Best to keep it that way.//
Somehow, she still felt like an eighteen year old and certainly not like 40. Maybe it was all the years spent in the tank, at Sinister's disposal, but she felt like she had missed out on a large part of her life.
Determined to leave the med lab, she tried to move her feet. They hung limp from the bed. It had been years since she had been allowed to walk! In what state was her body? Did she have to relearn everything?
Cautiously, she placed her feet on the floor, which was icy cold, but she didn't reconsider. Maybe she was lucky and the sun was about to rise! In loathing, she stared at the medical gown and the IV's, which kept her from leaving the room. She didn't hesitate and pulled out the IV's. //Done that before!//
She had tried to flee Sinister's 'care' too many times to count, but in the end, he'd always found her. //Never stopped trying though!//
Slowly, she placed her weight on her feet and held onto the bed for support. Yes, she could do this. Her feet could carry her weight and carefully, she took a first step.
//Strange?// she thought mesmerized. //Haven't been alone for years and now?// she longed for some kind company. // Hank seems nice and? what's his name? Warren is nice too.//
Step by step, she managed to reach the doorway and curiously, she peeked outside. //Just want to see the sun or the moon,// she thought saddened. She didn't really care what happened to her afterwards. //Just want to breathe fresh air.//
Hank sat behind his computer, apparently feeding it new data and she succeeded in sneaking passed him. A smile surfaced on her face, as she stepped into the corridor. But? how to get outside? What way to go? She didn't know this place!
As she scanned the corridor with her eyes, they came to rest on a window. Quickly picking up speed, she stumbled over to it and looked outside. It was still dark and stars filled the sky. A full moon provided enough light for her to see. //Beautiful,// she sighed relieved.
Although the world had gone on without her, it was still there, offering her beauty and serenity, something Essex had never understood. She shuddered and banished him from her thoughts.
"What are you doing here?"
Startled, she tried to spin around, but lost her balance.
Warren caught her before she hit the floor and pulled her back to her feet. "Hank doesn't want you out of your bed yet," he reminded her. Puzzled, he noticed her big eyes.
"Wanted to see the moon," she whispered in a guilty tone. Would they discipline her because she had been disobedient? She hoped that these people were different and understood her reasons for coming out here in the corridor. "It's been so many years."
Warren looked up at the moon and stars and tried to understand what she was saying. He didn't see anything special. The moon and stars appeared every night. "Even your voice sounds like Remy's." Yes, the nuances differed slightly, but?
She smiled saddened, hearing Remy's name. Sooner or later they would demand an explanation and she better thought up something they would believe! //I won't tell them the truth! They will loathe me and kick me out!//
"How many years?" Warren asked, as her remark finally sunk in. She shivered and he realized that she was probably cold in that med gown.
"More than half my life," she replied, hesitant to name the number of years. "I just wanted to go outside? feel the wind?"
Warren looked at the door to the med lab. Hank would be furious with him if he went along with this, but? she looked so damn lost! "Wait here, I'll get you a coat and some boots."
Surprised, she watched him disappear into a room. "What did you say?" Involuntarily, she reached out to read his mind. Yes, she had heard correctly. He wanted to take her outside. Excited, she stared at the moon. She's always loved the night.
"Here," Warren said and wrapped her up in one of Betsy's warm cloaks, which she had left behind at the mansion. The cloak reached her ankles and would keep her warm. "I'm afraid my boots are too big for you."
But she quickly slipped inside them and smiled. After all these years she was going outside! "They're fine, Warren," and she blushed slightly saying his name.
Warren couldn't repress a grin. "Think you can make it outside?"
"I want to walk, yes," she replied, but quickly realized that she was still wobbly on her feet.
"Allow me." Warren offered her his arm and to his delight, she accepted. As he walked her out of the corridor, he pondered his current situation. "It's strange," he confessed eventually. "Sometimes I think you're Remy and I can't see myself escorting him outside to look at the moon."
Nervously, she peeked at his mind, wondering why he had made that admission. Did she make him feel uncomfortable? No, that wasn't it. He seemed at ease. His emotions revealed surprise and confusion, but his thoughts were gentle.
Suddenly, he caught her glance. "Is that you?" Something had touched his mind. Betsy was a telepath and he knew what a telepathic touch felt like.
"I'm sorry," she admitted instantly, "but?"
Warren shrugged his shoulders. "I don't mind. You didn't do it on purpose or??"
"I didn't want to, but? I feel lost." She started to pull back. This was a mistake.
"What's wrong?" Warren was about to open the door and to show her the gardens and lake, when she tried to free herself of his arm. "Did I upset you?"
"It isn't you," she mumbled terrified. "Flirting got me into? trouble before. Should stay away from you and the others. Shouldn't be here!"
"Hey, calm down," Warren said and quickly released her arm. "Flirting?"
"Yes, I should stay away from you." Quickly, she checked her mental barriers, which were still weak. But they should be strong enough to keep her charm at bay.
Confused, Warren cupped her chin in his hand and forced her to lift her eyes. "You're not in danger from me, Emmy," he said softly, adding the name for impact. "I've never taken advantage of a woman in my entire life and I am not going to start now." Suddenly, his words hit hard. "That's it? You think I'm like Sinister?"
"No." Vehemently, she shook her head to deny the accusation. "I know you mean well. That's why I touched your mind? had to be sure." She shook off his hand and took a step back.
"We're almost there," Warren said seductively and flung open the door. Moonbeams crawled inside. It was a beautiful night and the stars shone brightly.
Hypnotized, she moved forward. "I forgot how beautiful the world is," she whispered and giggled as the wind blew through her hair. "Thank you."
"Come on, let's go for a short walk," and he presented his arm again. "You can trust me."
She nodded her head, sensing the truth in his mind. "I'd like that," and she took his arm for support.
Now and then, Warren looked at her, relishing the euphoric expression in her eyes. As she stopped to touch the trunk of a tree, he leaned against it. He wanted to ask her a million questions, but couldn't break the enchanting silence.
Her steps faltered, reading the growing curiosity in his mind and her doubt returned. //Shouldn't be here with him!// Being alone with a man had been her downfall 22 years ago.
A drop of rain splashed onto her face and she giggled. This was freedom. This was what she had longed for and she wouldn't give it up again. //I will fight you, if you're still alive, Nathaniel!//
The rain intensified and Warren grew worried. She was still weak and her face had paled. "We should go back inside."
"Yes, you're right." She took one last breath and stored the sensation in her mind. Stumbling, she hung onto Warren. She had overestimated her strength and was now paying the prize. //Don't mind. This is worth it!//
"Want me to carry you inside?" She was leaning heavily on him and Warren didn't want her to exhaust herself. "Hank will never forgive me if this walk worsens your condition."
"Why are you so eager to help me?" she asked mystified. "You don't like Remy."
"How do you know that?" Warren halted in his tracks and she came to a stop as well.
"Saw it in his mind when he was in Essex' lab. You blame him for something, don't know what." Time had been too short to extract more information from Remy's mind.
Carefully, Warren considered his next words. After his outburst aimed at Jono, he'd started to re-evaluate his life and past decisions. "Gambit made a mistake that cost many lives."
Fatigued, she locked eyes with him. "And you never made a mistake?"
"Oh, I made many!" he admitted. Allowing Apocalypse to turn him into Death had been one of them. He didn't care whether Apocalypse had brainwashed him or not. He hadn't resisted enough and Apocalypse had taken advantage of that.
" You made a valid point. I have no right to judge him." Leaning in closer, he slipped his hands underneath her knees and back and lifted her in his arms. "I might have been too hard on him. He was young and didn't know what kind of bastard Sinister was."
"He was 17," she added and closed her eyes. She didn't object to being carried and rested her head against Warren's chest. It had only been a matter of time before her knees would give out on her. Hank had been right. She needed rest. "And Essex offered him help in learning how to control his abilities, which were going berserk."
Warren raised an eyebrow. "How do you know all that?"
"I was there? in his lab," she admitted in a choked tone. "I couldn't tell Remy how evil Nathaniel really is."
Warren processed this information in silence and understood how Sinister had ruined Remy's life as well as hers. "Maybe I judged Gambit too harshly," he admitted. "I could talk to him?"
As he didn't get an answer, he looked at her face and realized that she'd fallen asleep. For the first time since Betsy had left him, he smiled.

"Warren!" Hank exclaimed in a frustrated tone. He'd wanted to check on Emmy and had found her bed empty. She couldn't have gotten far on her own and Warren was just the person who would defy his orders! "Warren!"
"Hank!" Bobby yelped and covered his ears. "What's wrong? Did you run out of Twinkies?"
"Robert Drake!" Hank shook his head in dismay. "I still got a drawer full of Twinkies, but I lost my patient!"
"The girl who looks like Remy?" Bobby inquired. Remy had told him about her before Logan had dragged the Cajun off to get some breakfast. He should have returned to his room, where Jono was probably waiting for him, but he had to tell Hank first. However, his timing seemed off. "Can I talk to you while we're searching for her?"
"Yes, Robert," Hank replied and wondered if he should contact Scott. If everyone helped, they would find her faster!
"Hank, remember when I made a fool of myself and told you I loved you?" Bobby whispered and fell into step beside his friend.
Suddenly realizing that Bobby wanted to tell him something important, he halted. "Yes, Robert?"
"I found someone who loves me back." Bobby cringed, wondering what Hank's reaction would be like.
"Robert! That's wonderful!"
"You also wanted to be the first to know?" Bobby said in a guilty tone, "But I told Remy first."
"Stop tormenting me, young man! Who is it?" Hank grinned, Bobby definitely seemed in love, but that didn't convince him yet. First, he wanted an in depth interview with Bobby's new lover.
"Chamber? Jono?" Bobby stared questioningly at Hank. "I know what it must look like. He just arrived and I'm already professing my love for him, but?"
Reassuringly, Hank nodded his head. "You worry too much. Robert. I'm happy for you."
Relieved, Bobby sighed deeply. "Hoped you'd understand."
Hank was about to say that he looked forward to getting to know Jono, when the door suddenly opened. A cold gust of wind swept inside and he cursed softly.
"Warren?" Bobby said surprised and studied the silent form in his friend's arms. Briefly, he thought that Warren was carrying Remy, but then realized the truth. This wasn't Remy!
"Warren," Hank took over, "I demand an explanation, but first, get her back into bed!" He opened the door so Warren could carry her inside.
"She wanted to see the moon and the stars," Warren said calmly. "It had been years since she'd seen them and I couldn't deny her that request."
Bobby crept closer and his eyes grew big, seeing the familiar features. She could pass for Remy's twin! "What's her name?"
"Emmy," Warren replied and peeled off the coat and boots.
Hank covered her body with the warming blanket. "Warren! You shouldn't have given in! She's still very weak!" Hank tried to re-attach the IV's to the back of her hand. "She just ripped them out!"
Warren however, wasn't listening. He was pondering his personal revelations.

 

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Jono was busy piling bacon and eggs, toast and fresh fruit onto Bobby's plate. What would Bobby like to drink? Undecided, he stared at the coffee, tea, milk and orange juice on the breakfast table. And how to get it upstairs without making a mess? //Bugger,// he swore softly. He could use some help!
"You must be Jono," Remy said warmly, as he stepped into the room. Immediately, he noticed the younger man's predicament. "Bobby's bossin' you 'round 'ready, non?"
//Don't turn around!// Jono told himself. The sudden movement might send the food items flying onto the carpet! Slowly, he looked over his shoulder and instantly recognized the two X-Men. Great, now he had to get out pen and paper as well!
"Get me some cereal and black coffee, cher?" Remy asked Logan and walked over to Jono. Chamber had a nervous gleam in his eyes and he realized the young man's problem. "You can talk to me in my mind, mon ami."
//Thanks,// Jono whispered into Gambit's mind. //Think I left pen and paper upstairs!// He placed the plate on the table and offered his right hand in greeting. //I'm Jonothan Starsmore. Did Bobby find yer? He was quite worried.//
"Oui, talked to him," Remy replied and studied Jono, trying to recall the little he knew about Chamber. The black bandages obviously hid injuries. "Need help?" he offered.
//Yer know what Bobby usually has for breakfast?// and he pointed at the drinks.
Logan joined them and one look at his lover told him that Remy liked Chamber. //Another telepath in the house!// he yelped mentally.
Jono looked up at him and gave him a funny look.
"After all these years I'm still gettin' used to havin' telepaths 'round," Logan admitted. "But I can deal with one more!" He grabbed Jono's hand and shook it, trying hard not to feel any pity for the young man's injuries.
//Yer don't mind me using telepathy to talk to yer?//Jono asked to be sure.
Logan nodded his head. "As long as ya don't read my private thoughts, I'm okay with it."
//Now I still don't know what to get Bobby!// Jono remarked helplessly.
"Go for the orange juice," Logan advised. "Drake hates the other stuff this early in the mornin'. They make him grumpy!"
Remy poured a glass of orange juice, got Jono a tray and put everything on it. "Think you can handle dat, mon ami?"
//Hope so,// Jono replied and picked up the tray. //And Gambit? I'm glad yer back. I don't know much of what happened, but when Bobby worries, I worry.//
"Merci," Remy whispered surprised. As Jono left the room, he turned to Logan. "Dose two will be very happy togeder, cher. I like Jono."
"So do I," Logan admitted with a growl and attacked the remaining bacon and eggs. "Wanna eat here or take it upstairs?"
"We can eat here, cher," Remy decided and sat down at the table. Slowly, he ate his cereal and then noticed the croissants and marmalade. "Might have one of dose too," he whispered absentmindedly.
"What's buggin' ya?" Logan asked, as some of his lover's confusion seeped through the shields and into his mind.
"Was t'inkin' 'bout your rules, cher." Remy put some marmalade on a croissant and dug into it.
"What 'bout them?" Logan poured himself some black coffee and pushed a glass of orange juice towards Remy. "Vitamins," he remarked and slapped his lover's hand away from the coffee.
"Merde!" Remy cursed and decided not to fight Logan over this. "Cher, when we discussed dose rules, I? got dis impression from your mind."
"Impression?" Logan asked and piled pancakes onto his plate. Damn, he was hungry!
"Oui, like an image?" Remy tried to explain. "It showed me what you? want."
"Huh?" Logan blinked his eyes. "What the hell are ya talkin' 'bout?"
Remy lost the fight and blushed. "Want me to seduce you?"
His utensils dropped hard onto the plane. "Yer a telepath now?" Logan leaned back and observed Remy, who was obviously growing more nervous with every passing second. "Yeah, that's true. Hey, I fantasize too!"
"Dat's all I wanted to know, cher." Remy smiled weakly. "Can do dat, cher. Can seduce you."
"Yer offerin'?" Logan asked in disbelief. Had Remy really seen his most secret desires? He shivered.
"Oui," Remy said after a brief hesitation. "Mais not here? de boathouse. Got a little more privacy dere, non?"
Dumbfounded, Logan stared into his lover's eyes. "Remy, are yer sure?"
"Logan! Remy!" Scott walked inside and headed for the coffee. He'd had breakfast an hour ago before starting on the repairs of the security system.
"Damn, Scott!" Logan exploded.
Scott however, grinned. He'd heard the last few lines the two men had spoken. He ignored Remy's giggling and sipped his coffee. "Got the security system online again and made some improvements. Remy, when you're feeling better, would you mind sneaking inside? I want to know if the system detects your presence."
Remy's giggling changed into warm laughter. "Want me to break into de mansion?"
"And the boathouse," Scott corrected him.
Remy's mind worked quickly and before Logan had a chance to cut him short, he asked Scott, "Can Logan and I stay dere tonight?"
Scott's smirk grew nasty. "You know what Bobby calls the two of you? The lovebirds!"
Logan growled. "Need to talk to Drake!"
"Don', cher," Remy quipped amused. "We can get back at him in turn."
"Jono," Logan realized. "Good, we'll think of somethin'!"
"Can we stay dere?" Remy repeated his question. Surprised, he sensed Scott's amusement as well as his approval.
"Sure you can!" Scott grabbed the last pancake from Logan's plate and while humming a tune, left the room.
"Remy?" Logan didn't know what to make of Remy's sudden determination.
"Trust me, cher," Remy whispered and brushed Logan's lips with his. "Your wish is my command, monsieur. Prepare to be seduced! Need to get some t'ings dough," he added thoughtfully and got to his feet. "Meet me at de boathouse at? 2000 hours."
Flabbergasted, Logan nodded his head. "What else are ya up to?"
"I want to talk to Henri. Want to know how she's doin', cher."
"Want me to join ya?"
Remy shook his head. "I need to do dis on my own, mais t'anks for offerin'!"
"2000 hours?" Logan repeated to make sure that he got the time right.
"Oui." Remy noticed that Logan's confusion was mixed with lustful anticipation. "Will follow your rules," he promised in an effort to take away any doubts Logan might have left.
Logan watched him leave and wondered what the hell he'd gotten himself into!

"Good morning," Hank said cheerfully and placed a tray on her lap. "I let you sleep late, Emmy. It's 10.30."
She stared at the food, fruit, cereal, milk, toast and even a? "Twinkie?" she whispered questioningly.
"You should try one, my dear. They are exquisite." Hank checked the IV's and asked, "Why did you rip them out?"
"I wanted out of here." Hesitantly, she poured the milk on top of the cereal and tried to remember what it tasted like.
"You could have removed them more gently," Hank berated her.
"Didn't really matter," Emmy whispered and smiled as the cereal crunched between her teeth. She would eat the Twinkie last.
Pleased, Hank decided that she'd had enough fluids and removed the IV's, but gently. "Emmy, I know you don't want to talk to Remy, but he's waiting in my office and?" A flicker of panic flashed in her eyes and he paused. "What are you afraid of?
//That I might tell him the truth!// Lying wouldn't work. Remy was an empath and would detect her lies. Being honest with him wasn't an option either. Feeling trapped, she looked at Hank. "Later?" she pleaded, trying to postpone the inevitable.
"I think both of you would greatly benefit from talking to each other. I can stay if you want me to," Hank suggested. She'd stopped eating and he wished he'd told her after brunch.
It was the second hardest decision she'd ever made. If she said yes, she would have to tell Remy the truth. Doing that, meant that she had to leave the mansion, would lose the few friends she had here and she wasn't sure she had the strength to do that. "I'm scared," she finally admitted and pushed the tray away. Suddenly, the scent of fresh food made her nauseous.
Hank sighed. "I take it that's a yes?" He realized why she dreaded the confrontation. No matter what it was that she was trying to hide, it would be a painful revelation.
"Yes," she said eventually and looked at McCoy who'd placed the tray on a small table next to her bed. //I don't want to lose this? this little warmth, this little friendship? but I WILL lose it. Remy can't possibly forgive me. He'll hate me!// Tears formed in her eyes, but she refused to cry. She would cry later, once she had left the mansion.

"Remy? You can talk to her now," Hank said and gestured Remy to join him in the corridor.
"Is she feelin' better?" Remy inquired and tried to calm down. He didn't know why, but the thought of talking to her excited him. Butterflies danced in his stomach and their wings tickled his insides. It felt like he'd jumped off a cliff and now the wind was taking him higher and higher.
Hank noticed the happy expression in Remy's eyes and replied, "Physically? Yes. Emotionally, she's scared."
"Scared?" Remy froze in his tracks. Why was she scared?
"Be gentle with her," Hank advised. "Sinister had her in his lab for years."
Remy nodded once and impatiently, he cocked his head as Hank opened the door to her room. A familiar warmth floated towards him and drew him closer. "Bonjour," Remy whispered in a shaky tone and shuffled inside. A sense of deep affection washed over him.
She tried to pull the emotional wave back, but failed. After 22 years he finally stood in front of her and he was actually smiling at her! A stab of guilt and anger flashed through her, but she managed to keep it inside. She didn't want him to feel her self-loathing.
Remy walked towards her bed and devoured her appearance. "I'm Remy LeBeau," he introduced himself, "mais you probably 'ready know dat. Merci for? savin' my life, I guess."
Unable to hold back her tears any longer, she simply stared at him. In spite of his recent ordeal he looked well. His eyes sparkled with mischief and she sensed a deep sensual longing in his mind. //He really loves this Logan. That's good. He will need comfort once he knows the truth and Logan can support him.//
Remy blinked his eyes. Although he had extended his right hand, she didn't move. Carefully, he reached out to find out what was wrong, but all he encountered was this affectionate warmth. Why couldn't he read her emotions?
"I'm Emily?" she said eventually and hid her hands underneath the blankets. If he touched her, her defenses might crumble and he would read the truth in her mind. //Wonder when he'll find out that he has some telepathic qualities as well?//
"Can I sit down?" Remy tried to give her the time she needed to grow accustomed to his presence.
"Yes." Her eyes scanned every inch of his face and she committed it to memory in case she might never get a chance to get this close to him again.
Calmly, Remy sat down on the side of her bed. Although she avoided locking eyes with him, he managed to catch her glance eventually. "Merci for lendin' me your strengt'," he said honestly. "Oderwise Logan would be dead now. Didn' know I could? attack him, resist."
"You're stronger than you think, Remy," she said softly, wishing this were over and done with. Where would she go? Where COULD she go? Back home? Were her parents still alive or had they died a long time ago?
"Emily?" Remy's fingers itched to wipe away her tears. "Who are you? Who am I?" Those were dangerous questions and the possible answers terrified and excited him at the same time. After so many years he might finally find out who he really was. "Please tell me de trut'?"
"Oh, Remy," she whispered affectionately and made her decision. Slowly, she uncovered her right hand and caressed his brow. "You already know the truth."
"I do?" Remy mumbled confused. As her fingertips touched his skin, electricity spread through his mind.
"But you need to hear it," she realized saddened. His brow felt warm, but not hot or clammy. Questions filled his eyes. //His eyes? my eyes?.//
"Please tell me," Remy repeated and curled his fingers around hers. Their connection had never been this strong, had never buzzed with this much energy and he wondered? "Why do I know you?"
Her voice nearly faltered, but she composed herself. "22 years ago I gave birth to you, Remy."
"Birt' to me?" Remy stared at her in bewilderment. Off all possible explanations, this one was the most unexpected... or was he fooling himself? Had he subconsciously known they were related?
"I'm your mother, Remy." She pulled back her fingers and waited for his rage to surface. He had every right to be mad at her.
Shocked, Remy could only stare at her. Silently, he begged for an explanation and devoured her words.
"I was 17 when I got pregnant. My parents disapproved and wanted me to abort the baby. I refused. I wanted to keep the baby. I wanted to keep YOU, Remy."
Remy had grown silent, listening to every word she said. "You wanted me?" He'd never known why his parents had abandoned him and now it looked like he'd finally learn the truth.
"I'm a telepath and an empath, Remy. I sensed your life force. If I had consented to the abortion I would have killed part of me. I was determined to keep you and if necessary, I would fight for you."
Remy's eyes started to water and instinctively, he grabbed her hand, squeezing it tightly.
"My grandmother offered to let me stay at her place and she even promised to help me take care of the baby. But she lived near New Orleans and I had to make the trip first."
"N'arlings?" Remy whispered softly.
"Yes, it would take me a week to get there by bus. I was 7 months pregnant when I had to make that trip." She cringed, remembering what had happened during that trip.
"You really wanted me?" Remy shook his head. His mother had done all that to make sure that he'd have a home? Had even given up her parents?
"Yes," she replied, reading his mind. "I never doubted my decision to keep you, Remy. But the bus trip was exhausting and the man sitting next to me offered to look after me. He got me drinks and food, even bought a teddy bear.
The night before we would reach New Orleans, I couldn't go any farther. I was drained and this man offered to pay for my hotel room so I could get one night of decent sleep. He said that he had some business to take care of and would help me get to New Orleans the next day? I trusted him."
Suddenly, Remy felt a warm hand on his shoulder. "Henri?"
But Hank remained silent, only offering Remy his support if he wanted it.
Realizing she had to tell the rest as well, she continued. "I was a fool. I didn't have much experience in readings emotions and I couldn't make sense of this man's feelings, but he seemed sincere and I trusted him? His name was Nathaniel Essex."
Remy released a strangled yelp. "Sinister?" Suddenly, things began to make sense.
"Yes. The next day, I woke up in his lab. For the first time I saw his real face and when he told me that he wanted my baby? "
Speechless, Remy shifted closer to her. "Why? Why me?"
"Nathaniel had long realized that I was a mutant, a pregnant mutant and he wanted the baby for his? experiments." She threw back her head and inhaled deeply. "I fought him, but he restrained me to the exam table."
"Non," Remy shook his head, shattered by her story. "Why couldn' he leave us 'lone?"
Unexpectedly, she smiled. "During my stay in his lab, I discovered that he had visitors. One of them was a Cajun. Later I discovered that he belonged to the Thieves Guild. Occasionally, they obtained DNA for him and he paid them richly for their services. This man, Alan, felt sorry for me and I managed to convince him that he had to smuggle you out of the lab."
Remy held his breath. Was this why he had ended up on the streets? Because his mother had tried to protect him from Sinister? Mon Dieu!
"After you were born, Sinister became ecstatic and raved about the experiments he wanted to conduct on you. When he briefly left the lab, Alan snuck inside and? " her voice broke.
Remy didn't know what to do. He wanted to hold her, console her but? would she let him?
"I hoped that he would take care of you, or at least find you some parents who would look after you. I wanted you to be happy. I am so sorry? I never wanted you to end up on the streets and when Nathaniel brought you back to the lab? I tried to help you, but? Essex was too strong. I couldn't help you when your charm broke loose."
Remy was still trying to process all this information. "I never knew?" He didn't know what he was feeling right now. Relief, anxiety, love and affection for her, anger and loathing aimed at Sinister?
She raised her left hand and caressed his face. His salty tears dripped from her fingers. "I named you Remy, knowing only too well you would have to fend for yourself in this world. I'm so sorry," she whispered and gingerly peeked at his eyes. Why wasn't he growing angry? She had expected rage and anger, but not this? love? warmth? affection!
"You tried to save me," he realized eventually. "Mon Dieu, dat means you've been his prisoner for?"
"22 years? you don't even know when it's your birthday, do you? You don't know your age and that's my fault!" she sobbed softly, desperately trying to prepare herself for his rejection.
"When is my birt'day? How old am I?" Remy asked automatically. He still hadn't registered the entire truth.
"Your birthday is August 27th and you're 22 years old, Remy."
"And you're my? mère?" Shocked, he looked at her. She didn't look a day older than 18!
"One of his experiments? I stopped to age 22 years ago?" She averted her eyes and stared at the wall. Shame washed through her. "I should have left with you. I should never have trusted Alan!"
"What went wrong?" Hank asked warmly. Her story had shocked him as well.
She shifted in the bed and curled her body into a foetal position. "Essex tracked Alan down. During the chase, Alan dropped Remy off in a deserted house. He planned on returning there later, but Nathaniel killed him."
" Je suis désolé," Remy whispered, as he finally calmed down. Her admission had been a shock, but the joy of being reunited with his mother after 22 years took over. "Your life must have been hell."
"The worst thing was that I couldn't help you, Remy." She closed her eyes and felt lost. "I never expected you to return to that lab. I knew Essex was up to something, but I never thought he would try to get hold of you again!"
"De charm?" Remy whispered the words. Soothingly, he rubbed her back.
"I couldn't control it back then," she explained, "and Essex needs the charm. It's the only way for him? to reach orgasm."
"He raped you too?" Hank asked shocked.
She didn't react at first. "For a very long time I thought that his behavior was my fault, so I trained myself to keep the charm at bay. It frustrated him when I finally succeeded in building the necessary mental defenses. That was when he remembered Remy. Only too late I realized what I had done. Essex was trying to track Remy down now that I had found a way to fight him and?"
"Don' blame yourself for dat," Remy said passionately. "You had no choice?neider did I."
Her eyes opened and this time the tears didn't surface. "You're a fine young man, Remy. I don't know if this means anything to you, but I'm proud of you."
Her words impacted hard and a sense of pride coursed through him. It meant the world to him. "Henri? Can I talk to her alone?" Remy requested.
Hank immediately left the room.
Now that they were finally alone he felt strangely shy. "Don' know what to call you."
"Emmy..."
Remy swallowed the lump in his throat. Her sad eyes, so much like his, revealed everything. Her emotions were tied with his and that instant he knew her fear. How could she possibly think that he would turn her away, reject her? There was only one thing he could say? no think. She was a telepath, wasn't she? //Je t'aime.//
His words completely surprised her. //You can't love me! Because of me Essex?//
//You tried to save me? I don' want to lose you ever 'gain. Want to get to know you. Want to talk to you. I don' blame you.// The words, -thoughts- poured out of his mind and he couldn't stop them. //Please stay. I finally found you! Please stay?//
//You don't hate me, Remy?// Gingerly, she accepted the embrace.
//Hate you? Why? Non, je t'aime,// he repeated passionately. //And now dat I've found you, I won' let you go 'gain.//
She couldn't believe that he forgave her. Couldn't believe that he accepted her in his life, but if he wanted to try, she could do the same. //I always loved you, Remy? I'm sorry for?//
Using his empathy, he reached out and offered her his pure love and affection. Offered her trust and acceptance and slowly, she relaxed in his arms. //Dis is our second chance,// he told her, //and we ain' goin' to t'row it 'way.//

 

Chapter Forty

Note: If you've got the chance, listen to the song 'World in my eyes' by Depeche Mode while reading this part. Yes, I stole their lyrics! And yes, this part is definitely NC-17!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Logan?" Scott walked up to his teammate in the danger room after shutting down the program. "Dealing with some repressed anger?"
"Repressed?" Logan countered in a ragged tone. He's just absolved a high level training program and had managed to get most of his anger and frustration out of his system.
"Still mad at Sinister?" Scott inquired knowingly. Damn, he felt the same way! Sometimes he hated wearing the mask of the perfectly calm leader, who never flew off the handle.
"What do ya think?" Logan growled, irritated at the disturbance. "What do ya want?"
"Hank contacted me. He wants you in the med lab to walk Remy back to his room?"
"Somethin' wron' with him?" Logan asked startled and wiped the sweat from his brow.
"I don't know the details, but Remy seems shaken. I gathered that much."
Logan grabbed a towel and headed to the locker room. "Tell Blue that I'm on my way," he called out before closing the door behind him. Upset, he wondered if he would ever get rid of the anger raging inside him. //Want to kill Sinister 'gain!//
But he also realized that he had to calm down before meeting his lover. Remy always picked up on his mood swings and the empathy made him extra vulnerable.
He peeled off his uniform and changed back into his sweats. Why had Hank felt it necessary to contact Scott? //Remy was gonna talk to the girl? // He wondered about the outcome of that conversation. Had Remy discovered the truth and had that upset him? Quickly, he headed down to the med lab.
"What's up, Hank?" Logan noticed the odd expression on McCoy's face. "Yer 'kay?"
"Remy will tell you. He's waiting for you in my office." Hank gestured his friend to follow him. "Remy needs to tell you something." After Logan had stepped into his office, Hank retreated, giving the two men some badly needed privacy.
To his surprise, he found Remy smiling and quite cheerful. Truth be told, he'd expected to see Remy in tears and near hysterics. Why had Hank insisted he came down here if Remy was fine?
Remy leapt to his feet and couldn't contain his happiness any longer. He desperately wanted to share it with his lover. "Cher," he whispered breathlessly and quickly covered the distance between them.
"What is it, darlin'?" A wave of relief, happiness and intense joy almost swept him off his feet.
"Talked to her and I have to tell you, cher!" Remy couldn't stand still and constantly shuffled his feet. He'd planned on telling Logan the truth slowly, but eventually he burst out, "She's ma mère! And she never wanted to get rid of me! Still can' believe it!"
"Slow down, kid." Logan grabbed his lover's shoulders and forced him to look into his eyes. "Again, and this time? slowly." Remy's words didn't make any sense.
"De girl, Emily, she's ma mère, my moder!" he exclaimed ecstatically. "She tried to smuggle me outside, 'cause Sinister wanted me for his experiments. She's ma mère!"
Slowly, Logan nodded his head. He'd never thought her to be a clone and he'd expected Remy and the girl to be related, but considering her age he had assumed she was his younger sister.
Subconsciously, (or were his telepathic abilities starting to kick in?) he sensed Logan's question. "She stopped agin' 'cause of Sinister's experiments. Cher, je suis si heureux! Feel like I'm goin' to explode!"
Remy's happiness was still seeping into his mind and he shook his head in amusement. "Findin' that out musta been a tremendous relief."
"Oui," Remy whispered. "She's asleep now. Talking drained her, mais I'm goin' back and Henri might release her tomorrow eve!"
"So, I guess this means our evening has been cancelled?" Confused, he realized he was feeling relieved at that!
"Non!" Remy exclaimed. "I'm only behind on schedule. Am goin' into town to get everyt'in' I need!" Remy planted a passionate kiss on his lover's lips and moved away from him. "You be dere at 20.00 hours!"
As Remy disappeared into the corridor, he stood there undecided. Remy's mother? the girl was his mother? Somehow, he had a hard time believing that, but Remy was an empath and would detect any lies.
"It was a shock to me as well." Hank revealed as he sat down behind his desk. Hours of work lay ahead of him. He needed to update his files, evaluate Emily's test results?. Another sleepless night!
"Ya think she's honest?"
"Yes," Hank said at once. "I witnessed their reunion. It's true. Emily is his mother and I'm sure Remy will tell you the details later. I've never seen him this elevated!"
"She's asleep then?" He wanted to talk to the girl as well, to make sure she wasn't playing his lover, but? //Remy knows what he's doin'.// Another thought followed that realization. //And what the hell are his plans for tonight? Why do I feel like I'm bein' lured into his trap? Well, I wanted him to seduce me? Fuck, I'm gettin' cold feet!//
Hours later, Remy arrived at the boathouse, balancing bags and beer cans in his arms. "Merde!" he sighed and kicked open the door.
"I'm really goin' to do dis!" he stated resolved and released his load onto the kitchen table.
He shrugged off his coat, straddled a chair and looked questioningly at the items in front of him. "Beer, lots of it!" he quipped and pushed the cans to one side. "Check, got dem! Steak?" he searched his bags. "Oui, food's accounted for? Cards!" he yelped and rummaged in his pockets. "Got dose as well."
Searching the living room, he wondered what he needed to change to make it more comfortable. "Open fire place? bien? " What about the lights? Hadn't he bought candles too? Yes, he found them at the bottom of one bag.
A little hesitantly, he shoved the content of the second bag onto the table. He'd actually blushed when he'd bought the lube at the pharmacy. His eyes had also caught sight of several types of condoms and he'd wavered. //Guess we don' need condoms?Healin' factor and all dat.//
"Massage oil? Check!" He opened the bottle and inhaled its scent. Logan had promised him a full body massage. "Ain' forgettin' 'bout dat!"
Locking at the clock he realized he didn't have that much time left. It was 18.00 hours. He still had to get dinner started, take a long shower and slip into his new clothes.
"Merde? don' want to be nervous!" Now, that he was sitting in the kitchen, staring at the bought items, he finally realized what he was about to do. //Seduce Logan!//
"Need some music!" He hurried over to the cupboard and inspected the music Scott and Jean had left behind. Eventually, he selected one CD and played it at a high volume.
While listening to the song, he decided that he didn't like it and skipped to the next song. "Dinner!" he yelped and headed back for the kitchen. The music played in the background while he laid the table, adding candles as well. He hoped that Logan wouldn't mind the romantic touch.
"Bien!" He would light the candles later, first he was going to take that shower! Humming along with the music, he collected some towels and then stepped into the bathroom. Slowly, he took off his clothes and studied himself in the mirror.
"Still too skinny," he remarked displeased. The dark circles underneath his eyes were only fading slowly and suddenly he felt? ashamed.
//Minor tearing?//
"Merde!" Why couldn't Sinister leave him alone? Every time he looked into a mirror he heard Hank's words. "You ain' goin' to win, Sinister!"
Furious, he turned away from the mirror and stepped underneath the warm and gentle shower. Its hot water relaxed him and he managed to compose himself again. "Doin' dis for Logan 'cause I want to do it!" he reminded himself.
After washing his hair and rinsing his body, he left the shower cabin and wrapped himself up in the towels. Involuntarily, the image he had read in Logan's mind returned.
"Does he really want me to take him?" Remy wondered and peeked at the mirror. This time he didn't shy back and studied his eyes. "Logan finds me attractive," he told himself. "He loves me and I want to make love to him!"
//Seduce him? My big mout'! I told him I could seduce him, mais? I never did somet'in' like dat 'fore!//
As he moved to his bedroom, he dropped the towels onto the floor. His clothes were waiting for him on his bed and he decided to forget about underwear. Instead, he slipped into the tight black jeans and gorgeous red shirt, made of silk, which moved sensually against his skin.
Slowly, as if conducting a ritual, he stepped into the black boots and picked up the black velvet jacket. Initially, he had been hesitant to buy it as the velvet reminded him of the robe, but the saleswoman had convinced him that he looked stunning in it.
Remy returned to the bathroom and combed his hair. Lifting his eyes, he hardly recognized himself in the mirror. "Hope Logan likes dese clodes."
He still had 45 minutes left and started dinner. While the potatoes were boiling, he sunk down on the couch and listened to the music. The CD wasn't that bad. Maybe he would leave it on.
Wringing his hands in nervousness, he almost decided to phone the mansion to cancel their date, but then the words of the last song stopped him. Frantically, he grabbed the booklet and his eyes devoured the lyrics.
"Dis might work!" he realized. The song spoke of seduction and suddenly he knew what to do. "Oui, dat's it!" He programmed the CD player and licked his lips. Everything was ready.

"Logan?" Jean had been arguing with herself whether or not to talk to the Canadian. "Is something wrong? You've been jumpy all day and your thoughts?" Her jaw almost hid the floor, realizing Logan had dressed up. "Now I get it! I should have realized what was going on, when Scott told me you were staying at the boathouse!'
"Jeanie," Logan growled in despair. "Yer makin' me nervous!"
"So, this is going to be the big night?" Jean leaned against the wall and watched him. Yes, Logan was nervous like hell! She didn't know him like this, insecure and confused and wondered what was causing it.
"Logan, why??"
Logan cut her short. "Not yer business, darlin'," he said resolved. He refused to discuss his relationship with her. This was something between Remy and he, personal, private!
Jean giggled. "Suit yourself, Logan!" As she left his room, she couldn't help but quip, "You know that empaths know your every desire? Remy might make you beg!"
A vicious growl flashed through the room, but Jean was already gone. "Great! Now I feel really reassured!" It was a quarter to eight; he should be on his way. //If only I knew what Remy's up to!//
Remy bounced up from the couch as the doorbell signalled Logan's arrival. Feeling nervous, he drew in a few deep breaths. Suddenly, he giggled? //It ain' like I'm a vierge, so why do I feel like one? Had sex 'fore!//
A small voice in the back of his head replied, 'Mebbe 'cause dis is de first time you WANT to make love?' Remy nodded his head and mumbled. "Oui, dat's vrai." It had never been his choice in the past. His fingers wavered briefly, but then swung open the door.
Logan swallowed hard at his lover's appearance. "Yer look stunnin'!" he said honestly. "I'm a lucky bastard!"
Remy smiled warmly, glad that his lover approved of his new outfit. "Come 'side, cher?"
Logan took in the room and wasn't really surprised to see that Remy had tried hard to make it look cozy. "Candles? Yer a romantic, Remy!"
"Sit down, cher? made steak for you," he whispered and tuned in on Logan's emotions. //Bien, you're nervous too!// It somewhat reassured him that the strong and determined Wolverine felt insecure as well.
"Remy," Logan whispered and stopped his lover from retreating into the kitchen. "I don't want? " he sniffed the air, "steak. Ya know what I really want." During his short walk to the boathouse he'd realized how much he craved Remy's touch and experiencing his lover's feelings.
Need shone from Logan's eyes and he realized that his lover wanted him right here and now. There had been no reason to bother with the steak, beer and cards and he changed his plans. "Want me or need me, cher?"
"Damn, both and ya know it!"
"Oui, Remy knows?" he whispered absentmindedly and moved until he stood behind his lover. "No walls, cher? Your rule number 2. I will respect it? hope you can deal wid my feelings, cher? I'll let you feel what I feel."
"What?" Logan mumbled, mesmerized by the tone of Remy's voice. His lover's arms slipped around his waist and demanding lips nibbled at his ear lobe. Remy's lips moved like hot liquid, setting his skin on fire. "What are yer doin', kid?" Nervousness crept up his veins.
"Don' t'ink, cher? just feel and let go. Let me do de rest?" His hands caressed Logan's back underneath the shirt and his tongue licked the salt away from his lover's skin underneath his ear. "Want to do dis for you, cher. You need dis?" and abruptly, he pushed Logan onto the couch, taking complete control of the situation.
"Darlin'," Logan sighed breathlessly, realizing that Remy's thoughts were caressing his mind. It was the most intimate sensation he had ever felt and he yearned for more.
He had long denied this part of his soul, this hidden desire, but Remy had uncovered it and it refused to be buried again. He was so used to being the strong one, so used to being the one calling the shots, that he craved placing that responsibility in someone else's hands.
When nightmares had tormented him, Remy had taken care of him, had reached into his mind to soothe his worries. He still cherished those short moments when Remy had cared for him, had told him what to do.
Remy pushed a button on the CD player, glad he had found this particular song. He needed some encouragement, some guidance and the lyrics would do that.
"Dis be de moment of trut', cher," he whispered passionately and the music echoed through the room. He'd memorized the words and planned on using them to his advantage.
Logan licked his lips, as Remy moved in front of him, dancing sensually. "Darlin'," he whispered again and reached out for his lover, who quickly danced away from him and remained just out of his reach.
"Let me take you on a trip," Remy sang softly and leaned in closer to breathe the next words into Logan's ear, "Around the world and back."
Gooseflesh appeared all over his body, feeling the mental caress as well. It filled his soul with warmth and? lust. "Yer gonna be the death of me," Logan whimpered, as Remy slowly unbuttoned his shirt. "Knew I overdressed," he quipped, fighting his nervousness. Making such dumb remarks weren't like him at all, but he needed time to get used to Remy being in control. All he could do was wait and see what Remy's plans were.
"And you won't have to move, you just sit still," Remy whispered the lyrics and sensually straddled his lover's hips. "Now let your mind do the walking."
Remy sighed as his fingers slipped Logan's shirt down his back. Although he understood Logan's need to let go, it still surprised him that his lover would surrender to him like this. Just how long had Logan fantasized about this? How long had the Canadian repressed this desire?
Slowly, his fingers trailed down his lover's chest. Logan's body was perfect. The muscle tone sublime and hungrily, he pinched his lover's nipples, pinched them hard!
Logan yelped softly, never expecting his lover to react with such? passion? force? and he growled his own desire. Only now he realized how much he had dreamt about finding a lover whose aggressiveness matched his. Remy's seduction skills overpowered him and he loved the stern determination in those red on black eyes.
"And let my body do the talking," Remy licked his lips, savoring the sudden fire in Logan's eyes. He threw back his head, closed his eyes and licked them again. "Let me show you the world in my eyes," he whispered and guided Logan's fingers to his lips.
The sight of Remy licking his lips like that, made him grow even harder, imagining what it would feel like if those hot lips closed around his cock. "Fuck!" Logan hissed, as Remy violently suckled his fingertips.
"Will do dat later, cher," Remy murmured. Logan tried to pull his hand back, but he didn't let him and circled his lover's fingertips with his tongue, slowly moving his head up and down.
Logan's eyes grew big. This sensual, uninhibited creature couldn't be his lover!
"I'll take you to the highest mountain." Remy released his lover's fingers and pressed his lips onto Logan's, kissing him hard, separating his teeth and possessively, explored the softness inside.
To the depths of the deepest sea. The music played on and the words rang through the room. Feeding off Logan's lust and love, Remy unzipped his lover's pants. His right hand stole inside and found him rock hard. "We won't need a map, believe me," he sighed sensually and took hold of his lover's trembling hands.
"Now let my body do the moving." Seductively, he rubbed his lower body against Logan's cock. He no longer needed the lyrics and whispered, "You like?".
"Yer drivin' me mad!" Logan admitted and couldn't remain passive any longer. With brute force, he ripped off the velvet jacket and then attacked the silk shirt. "Yer wearin' too many clothes!"
Remy laughed warmly at the outburst of lust. Slowly, he fisted his lover's cock. "I know what you really want, cher," he whispered wickedly. It was true. "You can' hide from me, cher?"
"And what do I want?" As he stared into burning eyes Logan realized he was defenceless. Yeah, Remy was reading his emotions and probably knew what he was trying to hide so desperately.
//Yer passion? yer lust? I want it!// Because of the empathy that tied them together Remy's lust had become his. Unexpectedly, Remy's fingers teased against his entrance and he growled at the sudden and incredibly intense touch. //Damn! He stripped off my pants!// he realized with a start! When had Remy removed his jeans?
"You want me to take you," Remy whispered and stopped stroking Logan's cock. Now that he had surrendered to the empathy, he knew his lover's hidden desires. "Repressed desires?" he mumbled and roughly grabbed Logan's neck. "You want me to? take you?"
"Remy!" Logan whimpered, feeling naked and exposed, now that Remy had spoken the words aloud. But he couldn't deny the truth, not any longer.
"It's okay, cher," Remy reassured him. "Know what you want and how you want it?" Losing himself in Logan's need and desire, he leaned forward and closed his lips over one hard nipple and suckled it hard.
Logan panted slightly and suddenly realized what Remy had meant by 'Will seduce you.' Remy was going to make him face this side of his personality.
Remy pulled him off the couch, onto the floor and he didn't resist. "Yer right," he admitted shakily. "Fantasized 'bout it? fantasized 'bout ya takin' me?"
"I know, cher," Remy studied him. Logan needed more time. He was moving too fast and had to reassure his lover first. "Just watch," he whispered softly. While kneeling on the floor, he moved along with the music and slowly unzipped his own trousers.
"Will make your dreams come true, cher," he promised and slipped out of the jeans. Another image appeared in his mind and wickedly, he stared at Logan. "You want me to touch myself?"
"Remy?" His cock dripped with precum and he barely resisted the urge to stroke himself.
"Don'," Remy instructed and slapped his lover's hand away. "Regarde!"
Salivating, he stared at Remy, as the Cajun fisted his own cock, moaning deliciously and temptingly moving his hips. Part of his brain couldn't comprehend the change in his lover. It was the first time ever that Remy was letting go, showing him trust and lust in their purest form. He couldn't hold back any longer and moaned, "Yeah, touch yerself? but don't cum yet!"
Remy opened one eye and swayed on his knees. "Goin' to come deep 'side you, cher."
"Oh my God?, Remy?" Logan leaned in closer, rested one hand at the back of his lover's neck and kissed him roughly, suckling his lips. "Keep fistin' yerself," he begged, entranced by this incredible sight.
"Non," Remy stated resolved and released his own erection. Logan was no longer nervous as lust and passion had pushed the fear for the unknown away. "Am neglectin' your needs? Turn 'round, cher? on all fours?like you want it? hard and rough? deep and fast?" Briefly, a rational part of Remy's mind refused to believe that he had actually spoken those words.
His mouth had gone dry and he looked pleadingly at his lover. "Take me? I want ya 'side me. Yer ?"
"The first person you trust to take care of you."
"True," Logan sighed and placed his hands on the floor. On all fours, he was now facing away from his lover. In his stomach, a delicious lust formed and made its way to his groin. He was painfully hard and craved release badly. "Fuck me, Remy!" He'd always denied this part of him existed, had always repressed this desire, but Remy had made him face it!
His hands petted Logan's buttocks and briefly, he soothingly rubbed his lover's back. He placed his body on Logan's and pushed him down.
An intangible growl left Logan's lips, as his lover's cock moved over his entrance, teasing, promising, but still stalling. "Fuck me hard. Damn, I need it!"
Remy had waited for this final permission and reached for the lube. "Oui, cher. You can let go? trust me? will make you scream?"
"Trust ya, want ya!" Logan yelped deliriously. Remy's cock pushed against his balls and one finger opened him up. Suddenly, he saw the lube and slapped it away.
"Cher?" Surprised, Remy withdrew his finger and rested his chin on Logan's back. "We should use de lube. Don' want to hurt you."
"Ya won't hurt me, Cajun! No lube!" he stated resolved. Part of him craved the discomfort, even hoped there might be some pain involved.
A sudden rush of lust swept through him and Remy finally realized the depths of Logan's desires. "Oui, cher? can give you what you need." He stopped talking and pushed two fingers inside.
Howling his need, he pushed back. "Gimme more!" he demanded and arched his back. His cock rubbed against the carpet and he wasn't sure he could hold back much longer. "Remy, don't wanna cum yet?"
"Trust me," Remy repeated and as he pushed a third finger inside his lover's warm body, he simultaneously reached out into Logan's mind. Desire, passion and animal lust swirled in his lover's thoughts and were pushing him closer to orgasm. He clenched an empathic fist around those feelings and stopped them from pushing his lover over the edge.
Suddenly, Remy realized that his lover was rocking against him, almost begging him to take him. "Shst, cher?"
"Need ya. " He moaned. Remy's fingers filled him, but he wanted more. //Want a hard poundin'!//
"You'll get dat, cher." Remy positioned himself behind his lover. "Spread your legs for me, cher?"
Hearing that command, Logan lost control.
With one smooth thrust, Remy buried himself in his lover's tight entrance.
Logan flinched at the intrusion and threw back his head. Lost for words, he focused on his need, hoping Remy would indulge him and take him deep.
Roughly, he grabbed Logan's waist and pulled out until only the head of his cock remained inside his lover. "Want it hard, non?"
"YES!" Logan screamed and rocked back his hips. Suddenly, strong fingers curled themselves around the base of his cock and resumed the earlier fisting.
Remy slammed hard into his lover and leaned in closer. "Feels bien, doesn' it, cher?"
"Oh yeah." On impulse, he looked over his shoulder and stared into red eyes. "Harder?." he begged. Remy's malicious grin made the blood boil in his veins and he wished that?
Remy buried his teeth in his lover's neck, drawing blood and thrusting deeper, faster.
"How did ya know??" Logan groaned helplessly and threw back his head, enabling Remy to bite deeper. His hands gave out on him and he collapsed onto the floor. Suddenly, the angle changed and he whimpered. Remy's cock was stroking a delicious spot deep inside his body and the sensation made him pant hard.
"We're goin' to cum?" Remy announced and fisted his lover's cock violently, still keeping back Logan's orgasm from within his mind.
"Love that?" Logan managed to moan the words. "Please say?"
"I'm fuckin' you, cher? Just like in your fantasy, mais dis is real." Covered in sweat, Remy decided that he couldn't take much more. He'd been holding back Logan's orgasm for minutes now and he craved his own release. "Je t'aime," he whispered and let go.
Logan's head reeled as ecstasy overwhelmed him. Suddenly, he sensed Remy's orgasm in his mind and screamed. He'd never experienced anything like this.
With a hoarse scream, Remy shot his cum into his lover's body and yet, at the same time Logan was cumming inside him as well! It drove them both mad and Remy howled with his lover as their ecstasy started to fade.
"Hush, cher," Remy whispered soothingly and sent a wave of tender affection into Logan's mind. "Je t'aime, Logan." Exhausted, he pulled out of his lover, but lacked the strength to roll off him.
"Sorry," Remy whispered and briefly withdrew from the link, as he tried to regain control over his own raging emotions.
Utterly satiated, Logan flexed his muscles and rolled onto his back, taking Remy with him and burying him in an embrace. Words failed him as he stared into his lover's draped eyes. "I never knew there was this wild side to ya," he admitted in a shaky tone. "I'm really a lucky bastard for havin' an empath as a lover."
Fatigued, Remy sighed and snuggled up to Logan's warm body. "Dat what you wanted, cher?" he whispered nervously. "I can' believe I did dat to you!"
"Ya know damn well that I wanted ya to fuck me!" Logan stroked his lover's back and pulled the quilt from the sofa to covered their shivering bodies with it. Inwardly, he felt liberated. "Remy, thanks for showin' me?"
"What you wanted? Needed?" Drained, Remy closed his eyes. "Wasn' sure I was readin' you right, cher. Was so 'fraid to make mistakes."
"Remy." Logan brushed his lover's brow with his lips and moved slightly to accommodate his lover. Immediately, Remy snuggled closer and rested one long leg on his thigh. "Thanks for givin' me what I craved, " he finally finished the sentence, which he'd started a moment ago. "And what do YA need, Remy?" he asked and peeked at his lover's closed eyelids.
"Want to sleep in your arms," Remy whispered in a sleepy tone.
"Then go to sleep, darlin'." Pulling his lover even closer, he made sure that Remy was warm. "I'll always treasure yer gift."
In his sleep, Remy smiled.

 

Chapter Forty-One

Undecided, Warren stood in front of the med lab. From the corner of his eye he caught a reflection in the glass. Hank was working on updating his computer files and almost guarding the corridor.
//Must be making sure that Emmy and I don't sneak out of the med lab again!// he realized. He didn't feel guilty for taking her to the gardens. Emmy had loved to see the moon and feel the wind again. //Can't possibly understand what her life must have been like as Sinister's prisoner? for years!//
That admission had stunned him most, that she had been inside Sinister's lab for years! Part of him wanted to make Sinister pay, but when Scott had updated him on the rescue mission, he had learned that Remy had most probably killed Sinister.
Although Scott hadn't told him any details why Sinister had abducted Remy, he could put the pieces of the puzzle together. He wasn't that stupid! Sinister was mad and he wondered what Emmy had suffered at Essex' hands. The mere thought made him shudder.
He still vividly remembered the way Emmy had reacted to seeing the stars for the first time in years. How she had smiled when the wind had tickled her hair? The child like wonder in her eyes still took him aback at times, but there was also a sense of wisdom that clung to her. A rare mixture and it continued to draw him closer.
She needed him. Betsy never had. Betsy had simply accepted his love and after a while he felt like she was taking him for granted. Then everything had changed. The shadows? Betsy had started to change and he blamed her shadow walking ability for taking her love away from him. Betsy had lost interest in their relationship and in time she had entirely slipped away from him.
Emmy? Emmy was different and he liked her a lot. At first, her appearance had kept him at a distance, as she reminded him a little too much of the man responsible for losing his wings. But that was another issue he was re-evaluating, LeBeau and his part in the massacre.
Gambit had never answered all their questions and the little the Cajun had revealed during the trial had set off his rage, but he wasn't without guilt either. //I walked out on Gambit during that trial,// and he had the sneaking suspicion that Eric the Red had hoped he would desert Gambit after hearing about LeBeau's part in the massacre.
"Warren?" Hank pushed up his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. It had been a long night. Peeking at his teammate, he noticed the far away determination in his eyes. Whatever Warren was thinking about, it consumed him completely.
"Back so soon, Warren?" he tried again, hoping the sound of his voice would snap Angel out of it. It was obvious that Warren was making up excuses to be in the med lab, more specifically, to be close to Emmy. "You want to visit Emily?" he asked knowingly.
Since Remy's visit, several hours ago, Emmy had been asleep. Confessing her past to her son had drained her and Hank felt a need to protect her from future harm. That was also why he wasn't sure if he should allow Warren to visit her. Yes, Warren was attracted to Emmy, but was also still trying to work through his break up with Betsy.
What if Warren decided that he needed more time to deal with his past and left the mansion? Emmy had also taken to Warren, he had noticed that as well and after her revelation earlier, he suspected that Remy's father had abandoned her when she had told him about the child. He didn't want to see her get hurt again.
Eventually, he made his decision. "It's almost time to wake her up anyway. Warren, ask her what she would like for breakfast?"
"Sure," Warren replied and nodded his head once. Later on, he would talk to Remy about Antarctica and try to straighten things out between them. First, he wanted to see Emmy.
He presented a bundle of clothes to Hank. "Jean asked me to give her these clothes. She thought that Emmy wouldn't want to leave your lab wearing a med gown."
"Very good." Hank gestured Warren to continue his walk. "Emmy will probably still be asleep," Hank paused to gather his thoughts, "and Warren?"
Warren looked up and waited for McCoy to continue. Something greatly worried Hank and he had a good idea what it was.
"Please keep in mind that she has been cut off from life for years?" Hank pleaded. "As an empath she now craves love and affection, things that Sinister denied her and she knows you like her. You would hurt her tremendously by taking that away from her."
"I know what I am doing. Trust me, Hank. I'll be careful," Warren said reassuringly. The last thing he wanted was to hurt Emmy the way Betsy had hurt him.
As Warren walked down the corridor, stabbing apprehension swept through Hank. How would Warren react if he learned that Emily was Remy's mother? Right now, Warren was infatuated with her, but that revelation would certainly shake him up. Patient- doctor confidentiality forbade him to enlighten Warren. Remy or Emily had to decide when the time was right to tell the others.
"Can't protect her from life," he realized saddened. For Emmy's sake he hoped that Warren knew what he was doing.
However, it still surprised him that Warren had accepted her presence this unconditionally. Warren hadn't asked him once if she was a clone, or who she was. "Can't believe that they haven't figured it out yet. But then, she looks so young!" Ororo most certainly assumed that Emmy was a clone, which Sinister had created to win their trust.
Hank returned to his workstation and used the comm. System to contact Bobby.
"No!" Bobby yelped and tried to hide deeper in Jono's arms. "Have mercy! It's eight in the morning. Lemme sleep!"
Hesitantly, Jono opened one eye. The buzzer had provided a rude awakening, but waking up with Bobby in his arms made up for it. In his dreams, he had been tickling Bobby and he felt tempted to continue doing that in real life. But foremost, he needed a moment to re-adjust to the fact that he was awake again? and no longer whole as in his dreams.
"Robert Drake! I know you can hear me! Answer me, young man!"
"Hank? " Bobby whimpered, suddenly realizing they had fallen asleep with their clothes still on. //Yeah, I remember now? Jono refused to wear Bugs Bunny jammies!//
"Hank," Bobby pleaded, "Don't do this to me. It's my day off!"
A soft chuckle escaped the comm. System. "I want mister Starsmore in my lab in one hour!" he announced wickedly, figuring there was a big chance that the two men had fallen asleep together.
Jono grinned at the sight of Bobby's mock terror. //Calm down. Luv.//
"How does he know that you're in here too?" Bobby whispered helplessly.
"One hour, Robert," Hank reminded him. It was time to meet Bobby's new lover!

//Maybe this is a mistake,// Emmy thought nervously. When she had woken up she had needed to go to the bathroom and she had decided to try without calling in Hank's help. She had made it into the bathroom, but now the bed looked awfully far away. Her knees almost gave out on her, unaccustomed to carrying her weight for a longer period of time. //Only a few more steps!// For so many years Sinister had decided what her life was like and now that she had her freedom back, she was too weak to enjoy it!
Waking up in this room had been a strange sensation. She felt safe here knowing Remy was close and Hank was probably keeping an eye on her as well.
She stumbled over the medical gown and the floor quickly rose to meet her. But suddenly, she sensed Warren's mind and then his hands, tightly grabbing her waist and preventing her from falling.
His deep concern took her aback. Yes, Remy worried about her as well, but Warren's feelings differed. There was an undertone of tender affection that indicated he really liked her in that special way. She shook her head, determined not to fall in love again. 22 years ago, Remy's father had ended their relationship because he'd felt too young to be a father and she had vowed to never get romantically involved ever again!
"Why are you out of bed?" Warren threw the clothes onto the chair and helped her back to the bed. Her features still confused him. He could never look at her, without thinking about Remy at the same time. But looking into her red on black eyes no longer disturbed him. He was even growing fond of them!
He eased her down on the bed and covered her trembling body with warm blankets. "You should have asked Hank to help you," he berated her softly.
Hesitantly, she lifted her eyes to meet his. At times like these she wished she couldn't read emotions, which were so much more intense than thoughts. Emotions never lied, always revealed the truth. //You shouldn't be falling in love with me,// she thought saddened. //We will never work out.//
"I brought you some clothes, as Hank plans on releasing you later today. How are you feeling? You look a little pale." Warren sat down. Her expression puzzled him. Betsy had sometimes allowed him to read her thoughts, but with Emmy he was guessing at what troubled her.
She couldn't let him go on like this and should address this. "You're hurting, why?" She wasn't sure she could deal with his problems, but being an empath, she had no real choice.
Warren felt slightly startled, even embarrassed. "I won't lie to you," he said gingerly. "My girlfriend dumped me."
His pain increased and she fortified her defenses. "Why did she do that?" Warren seemed a nice man, someone who cared for others.
"We drifted apart," he admitted. "Maybe we took each other for granted." He shrugged his shoulders.
"I'm sorry," she whispered honestly.
Warren smiled weakly. "No need to be sorry. I'm better off this way."
Emmy didn't really know to react. It had been so long since she had discussed personal matters with another living person. Essex had only given her orders, had never TALKED to her. And there was something else about Warren that confused her. Warren had feelings for her? romantic feelings and now they were discussing his former girlfriend.
Warren read the confusion on her face and changed the subject. "Scott asked me to get a room ready for you in the ladies wing. I hope you'll stay?" That last part was a plea and a question in one. Hopefully, she would accept the offer. "I do think you belong here," he explained.
A smile surfaced on her face. "I'd love to stay," she revealed in a grateful tone. Remy had also asked her to stay and she wanted to get to know her son? and Warren as well. She still had a hard time believing she could actually be this lucky. Against all odds she had found a new home here in Westchester.
"And Hank wants to know if you want breakfast," Warren asked and couldn't repress a radiant smile now that she'd said yes.
As if on cue, Hank entered the room. Seeing Emmy this relaxed pleased him. Even Warren looked less depressed. He still remembered the brooding look in Angel's eyes when they had returned from Sinister's lab. //These two are good for each other, but I do wonder how Remy will react.//
"Breakfast?" Emmy repeated in a calm tone. Food was the last thing on her mind. "Hank? I need to ask you something?" and she forgot about Warren's presence. "How's Remy?" She had picked up on his warm feelings, but she had to be sure.
Hank gently patted her right hand. "Remy's fine."
Relieved, she sighed. In spite of his apparent acceptance she still feared some repressed rage might surface. Rage, aimed at her and Essex for ruining his life like that.
Warren listened closely. It didn't surprise him to learn that she was worried about Gambit. He figured the two of them were somehow connected.
Emmy read the questions in Warren's mind, but couldn't bring herself to tell him her sordid history, afraid it might chase him away and she craved his company.
Warren recognized the expression in her eyes and respected her need for privacy. It did convince him however of the fact that he needed to talk to Remy in private. He didn't want to risk alienating her because he'd had some issues with Gambit.

//I hate tests,// Jono sighed mentally. //I'm not depressed any longer!//
Bobby folded an arm around his lover's waist. He'd decided to accompany Jono to the med lab, afraid that Hank was set on questioning his lover.
Jono felt that the tests had become unnecessary. Since he'd met Bobby, his dark moods had lifted and he hadn't blown anything up either. //So, what's yer friend like, luv?//
"Hank's been my best buddy for years. He was always there for me when I needed someone to talk to."
Jono realized he might be in trouble. //He might be worried that I'm not good enough for yer.// What if Hank couldn't stand him and would try to push them apart? Bobby obviously valued Hank's opinion. //Won't allow that to happen,// he thought privately.
"Don't worry, love," Bobby said reassuringly. "I will bribe him with Twinkies!"
Jono released a telepathic chuckle. //Twinkies? yer blokes got a Twinkies obsession!//
"I'm not arguing," Bobby quipped and kissed the bandages. "Just relax, love, and everything will be fine!"

"Ready to go?" Warren nodded his head. The jeans and blue sweatshirt fit and he handed her a pair of Nikes.
Feeling insecure, she looked down her body. The clothes felt odd and unfamiliar, as she had been naked in Sinister's tank for years. She almost felt human again!
"I was wondering," Warren started, "I need to go into town to get some things I need. Want to join me? You might need to do some shopping yourself as you only have one outfit." Her shocked eyes surprised him.
"I don't have any money," she whispered embarrassed. Real life suddenly overwhelmed her and she wondered if she would ever get used to it again!
Warren opened the door for her, waved at Hank and steadied Emmy as she lost her balance. "Don't worry about money. I've got lots of it. Just buy what you need."
A voice, coming from around the corridor made him look up. Immediately, he recognized Bobby's voice, apparently talking to? Jono?
Accidentally, she read those two names in Warren's mind. Bobby and Jono? She had never heard those names before. Although she tried to recompose herself, she continued to tremble. There were too many people close to her!
"Bobby, Jono!" Warren said pleased as the two men came into view.
Jono sensed the presence of another telepath and realized it was the girl. //She looks like Gambit,// he told Bobby and shielded that thought from her.
"You must be Emily!" Bobby whispered. Hank had revealed her name to him on the comm. System after he'd nagged for minutes. "I'm Bobby and this is? my lover, Jono," and felt proud of himself for saying it without blushing.
It was obvious to her that they loved each other deeply. Their emotions were clear and full of life and she couldn't help but feel happy for the two young men. //"I'm Emmy."// She spoke aloud, but also sent the message telepathically into Jono's mind. She wanted to acknowledge his telepathy, realizing he felt insecure about using it.
Warren watched them and made a decision. "Bobby, Jono? Emmy and I are going shopping this afternoon. Want to join us?" It was his way of trying to confirm that he was okay with their relationship. He still felt bad about lashing out at Jono when they had first met. Going into town might give them a chance to get to know each other.
Enthusiastically, Bobby nodded his head. "That's perfect! Jono and I need matching jammies!"
Jono whimpered mentally and Emmy giggled, realizing this was just an act.
"Meet me in the living room at 12.00," Warren said and then looked back to Emmy. "Let's get you to your room. You might want to rest."
Hank had heard their voices and continued to observe them. Jono looked all right. Bobby was holding his lover's hand and they were clinging to each other. Even Emmy might benefit from their company and called out, "I'm waiting, mister Starsmore!"
Bobby yelped hearing Hank's tone and quickly agreed to meet Warren at noon.
//Not wearing yer jammies!// Jono stated resolved.
"We will see about that, love!" Bobby quipped and pulled his lover along.
"You can pick Jonothan up in two hours, Robert." Amused, Hank watched Bobby's nervous expression.
"You will be nice to him, won't you? Don't question him, please Hank!" Bobby looked helpless.
Jono had long realized that Hank felt protective of Bobby and that fact made McCoy likable. //I'll be okay, luv,// he sent reassuringly. Awkwardly, he squeezed Bobby's hand. //Will see yer in two hours.//
Reluctantly, Bobby left the med lab, praying Hank would go easy on Jono.
Hank gestured Jono to take a seat. Before starting his battery of tests, he wanted to talk to Jono, find out what kind of man Starsmore was. "Looks like you already feel at home here."
Jono hesitated only briefly and then replied telepathically, figuring that McCoy -a scientist- wouldn't be shocked. //Thanks to Bobby. He makes me feel welcome here.//
Hank nodded his head once. Jono seemed to be a nice young man. Yes, he definitely liked Jonothan Starsmore. "Bobby is very fond of you."
//I love him,// Jono admitted honestly and looked straight into McCoy's eyes.
"I know that," Hank replied pleased and looked forward to finding out more about this young man in the next two hours, but first, "Please take off those bandages so when can get started."
Jono tensed up. People used to freak out when seeing him without the bandages. But he realized that McCoy wanted to help and slowly, he loosened the bandages, then peeled them off. He felt exposed and naked now that they were gone. His psionic energy sizzled through the room.
Hank smiled warmly, realizing that taking the step to trust him had been hard on Jono. "Come, my friend. We've got a lot of work ahead of us."

Feeling startled and excited at the same time, Emmy pushed open the door to her new room. HER new room. She hadn't had anything to herself for 22 years!
"We still need time to decorate it," Warren explained, disappointed that he couldn't offer her more than a sparsely furnished room. It had a bed, desk, chair and closet. "We never expected," her eyes silenced him. Swallowing hard, he recognized the wonder and gratitude in them.
"I like it," she said, grateful that the walls were beige and not sterile white, which would have constantly reminded her of Essex' labs. "Whom do I have to thank for this?" //A new home? I found a new home!// Gingerly, she sat down on HER bed.
"Professor Xavier and he looks forward to talking to you once you settled in." His eyes wandered through the empty room. "We'll buy the things you need," he promised and wondered if she wanted some privacy right now. "Will meet you downstairs in 2 hours." But damned! He didn't want to leave! He wanted to talk to her!
She sensed his confusion, but felt too shy to ask him to stay. //Don't want to give him false hopes,// she thought nervously.
"I'm glad you decided to stay," he whispered absentmindedly, wondering how to survive those two hours.
"Two hours?" she repeated, looking forward to spending more time with him. //And Bobby and Jono!// she berated herself.
Reluctantly, Warren closed the door behind him. He needed something to keep him busy during those two long hours!
Bobby paced the living room. The rest of the team was running a training program.
"Bobby?" Warren walked inside, rather relieved he'd found someone to talk to.
Bobby raised his eyes and suddenly? //He looks different! Almost radiant!// Warren's eyes sparkled with life.
Nervously, Warren shuffled his feet, wondering what to say. Oh, he wanted to tell Bobby about Emmy, tell him how much he liked her, but he was so scared he was rushing things! What if Emily didn't feel the same way about him?
Bobby set aside his worries about Jono, who was right now at Hank's mercy and concentrated on Warren. Like Hank, Warren had always been there for him, helping him when he needed advice. "Want to tell me something?" he probed. When Warren remained silent, he made an educated guess. "You're in love!" Warren's blush completely surprised him.
"Maybe I am," he revealed thoughtfully.
"Emily?" Bobby said knowingly, remembering the look in Warren's eyes earlier. He had been wondering all along why Warren was suddenly volunteering to help Hank in the med lab. "I still need to get used to the fact that Betsy and you are no longer together," he admitted eventually.
"She left me and I've got to move on." Warren sat down next to Bobby. "We weren't happy together."
"Doesn't it bother you that Emily looks like Remy? I know you don't like him," Bobby asked curiously.
Warren sighed heavily. "I need to talk to Gambit the moment he gets back from the boathouse. Maybe I judged him too harshly."
Bobby's eyes grew big and he pinched the back of Warren's hand. "Are you the real Warren?"
"Yes, I know," Warren smiled weakly. "I really like her, Bobby. But I doubt she'll give me a chance. I think she knows I walked out on LeBeau during the trial."
Bobby raised an eyebrow. "You love her?"
"I think so, but? damn, this is such a mess!"
Bobby wanted an explanation. "You're gonna give up on her?" Now that he had found his love, he couldn't image someone else could give up on theirs.
"Bobby, she told me that she was in Sinister's lab for years and Scott hinted why Essex wanted Gambit. You know I always assumed that Gambit worked for Sinister out of his own free will, but I am starting to doubt that now. From what Scott told me, gathering the Marauders was his way out." Hearing that had shocked him. Scott had called it sexual intimidation. He however called it rape!
"I doubt Sinister treated her better!" Frustration and anger sounded in his voice. The mere fact that Essex had laid his hands on her infuriated him! But fooling himself wouldn't get him anyway. If Sinister had mistreated Emily in the same way, it would be hard, almost impossible to win her trust.
"Warren," Bobby said hesitantly. Remy had told him in confidence that Sinister had raped him and he didn't want to violate that trust but, "Remy found a way to deal with his pain and fears. Logan and he are really close now. You need to hang in there. If Emily has been through the same thing with Sinister, she will make you prove your love over and over again. Give up now and you'll never get the chance to prove you love her."
"So, you think I've got a chance?" Warren asked hopefully.
"Yes, I do. If you really are in love with her, you'll have to fight for her like Logan did."

Emmy sat on her bed, arms tightly wrapped around her body, rocking back and forth. Lonely, she counted the minutes until she could go downstairs. Thankfully, she still sensed Remy's warm presence at the edge of her mind. She kept some distance though, feeling the afterglow of their passionate love.
As far as she was concerned, Remy deserved all the happiness in the world after what they had done to him. Essex and she were to blame for the pain he had suffered. If only she had been stronger! Had found a different, better way to get him away from Essex, then Remy would never have ended up on the streets! She would never stop blaming herself for his pain. 22 Years ago she had failed to protect him and she would never forgive herself for ruining his life!

Bobby marched into the med lab to pick up Jono for their shopping spree. Hopefully, Hank had finished his tests and Jono was ready to go.
Curiously, his eyes drifted through Hank's office. He sighed, as McCoy waved him closer and gave him a satisfied smile. Looked like everything was fine!
Jono startled, no panicked, as Bobby suddenly appeared to his left. His hand moved to cover his face as his bandages were still off. He didn't want Bobby to see him like this! //Don't look at me, luv,// he said pleadingly and turned away. Bobby would finally realize what a freak he really was! Frantically, he grabbed the bandages and tried to wrap them around his chest and face.
"Love," Bobby said warmly and forced back his tears. He'd never expected the injuries to be this severe and it pained him to see Jono's reaction to his sudden presence. "Jono, love," he repeated calmly. Jono acted like he would shun Chamber for the rest of his life because he looked like that! Yes, seeing all this psionic energy roaming free startled him, but didn't appal him.
Jono was fighting off his panic, scared he would blow up Hank's office unintentionally. Bobby's eyes mirrored his shock and he quickly averted his.
"Jono," Bobby said, grabbed his lover's hands and waited until Jono looked at him. "I love you just the way you are and this is part of who you are. You are NOT a freak or a monster!"
Jono's eyes lit up, then darkened again. //Don't want yer to see me like this,// he admitted ashamed, but immensely relieved that Bobby hadn't turned away from him.
"Love," Bobby whispered and stopped Jono's hands, which were frantically trying to wrap the bandages around the damaged area. "It's okay, love."
Jono's hands dropped, but kept clutching the bandages. //Thanks, luv. Yer have no idea how much this means to me.//
"I know how much it means to you," Bobby berated him softly.
Hank closely observed the interaction between the two young men and definitely liked what he saw!
"I don't care if you're done with your tests, Hank," Bobby stated in an alarmingly determined tone. "I'm taking Jono with me." He had to do something to break Jono's darkening mood. "Warren is taking us shopping and I plan on abusing his credit card!"
Hank nodded his approval and helped Jono in getting the bandages back in place. Jonothan Starsmore had superbly passed his personal test!

Hesitantly, Emmy walked downstairs in search of Warren and she prayed she wouldn't run into even more strangers. Although she tried to act bravely, she wasn't sure how much more she could take.
"Emily?" Scott had been on his way to the kitchen when he had seen her sneak downstairs and curiosity had gotten a tight hold on him. He hated mysteries and the fact that neither Remy nor Hank were talking irritated the hell out of him.
Emmy flinched hearing the alien voice and wished she hadn't left her room. She simply didn't know how to react to strangers. //Please, don't let my panic set off the transformation! They can't know what Essex did to me!// She could never reveal her last secret to them, for they would shun her!
"I'm Scott," he introduced himself and walked up to her. Reading her body language, he decided to keep his distance. She looked afraid and ready to run. "I hope you'll like it here." He still wished Hank had told him more! McCoy had revealed was that her name was Emily, that she wasn't a clone and could be trusted. He had never doubted Hank's judgement before and decided to help her the best he could. He extended his hand, but she didn't take it.
"I'm sorry," she whispered her apology because she had hesitated and then weakly shook his hand. She needed time to re-adjust to this life of freedom! "Warren?" she asked eventually.
"He's in the living room. I'll walk you there," he offered. Her appearance still stunned him and he suspected that if she wasn't a clone, she was probably Remy's younger sister.
She sighed relieved as her eyes caught sight of Warren, who was ready to go.
"Emmy," Warren exclaimed happily and stopped himself from pulling her into his arms. It was way too soon for that! "Here," he said and draped one of Jean's coats over her shoulders. He had decided against using Betsy's clothes, as he didn't want her to think that she was Betsy's replacement.
She slipped into the coat and failed in locking out the sudden surge of affection emanating from Warren. Why had she agreed to go shopping with him? She shouldn't encourage him! But she craved his warm feelings and his company.
"Bobby and Jono are waiting for us in the car," Warren informed her and opened the door.
Emmy stepped outside and deeply inhaled the autumn air. Unexpectedly, she felt Warren's hand, which came to rest at the small of her back. In his mind, she read concern. He was worried she might lose balance again and take a fall. She should pull back, but didn't. This affectionate gesture warmed her heart.
"Look!" Bobby exclaimed and elbowed Jono in the stomach so he had a better view of the two people walking up to the car. "See! Warren is in love!" he whispered contentedly.
Jono rolled his eyes, wondering what shopping hell awaited him. The worst part was that Bobby was still set on getting them matching jammies!!!!!!!!!

 

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