Please Come Home for Christmas
by Nicole Kes
Disclaimer :All Characters depicted here are Marvel's so no no suing ;)
BTW Rogue is the one telling the story. Enjoy the fic
23rd of December, Xavier Mansion 10:00 P.M
Two days befoah Christmas, the holiday spirit can be seen all ovah
the streets, with the usual Christmas rush, an' children with happiness
an' excitement in their eyes.
Mutants like me, even recognized as outcasts, enjoyed the same feeling.
Even if we have tah be kept hidden from the eyes of humankind. We live
Christmas quite normal. Especially in Prof Xavier's place, our place.
where others of mah kind live the season in a simple way, with the
works of Christmas trees, gift-givin', decorations and lights all
ovah the huge estate an' love.
Ah was in mah room, frantically waitin' for mah man, well at least foh
me, Ah wanted tah give him somethin' special, Ah was so excited. He
promised tah be here about six, but now, he's not yet heah.
Ah decided tah sneak in outside an' listen tah the others conversation, to
entertain mahself a bit, Ah jis don't have the mood tah join in. So Ah
snuck outside.
"I have never hoped for a better Christmas than this" The same frank
tone of the Prof declared. "Finally, we are together again my students,
although I wished even all of the other ex X-Men would be here" he
continued.
All of mah teammates are with him, namely Shadowcat, the youngest,
Storm, mah best friend, Colossus, anotheah of mah trusted friends,
Nightcrawler, mah good kindly foster brother, Wolverine, the ageless
old friend of mine and Marrow, the girl Ah wouldn't hope tah know,
at least for now, thangs can change raht?.
Prof' sighed. "I had wanted a good ending, I wish still that all
mutants are feeling the same happy feeling"
"Well not all" Wolverine or Logan replied huskily. "Not for some
mutant upstairs"
That jerk, he's talkin' about me again, he always did, if somethin'
happens tah me, he'll be the first one tah bring it up! That's what
friends are anyways.
"Rogue, what could she be doing alone up there?" Storm asked
worriedly.
"Mein sister is waiting for her man. Gott, that Gambit hasn't been home
all day." Nightcrawler, Kurt Wagner answered in an uneasy voice.
Ah turn on a disappointed look. He's raht, Gambit didn't even care tah
spend time home, everyday since this week, he's out, he'll come home
early in the morning, late midnight, times Ah cain't see him. Ah was
so damn worried Ah'm pulling mah neck off. Ah jis hope he's okay in the
mean time, or maybe he doesn't like me anymoah. Ah hate sayin' that.
Ah decided Ah need some cooling wit' mah friends, tah keep me better.
Ah'm beginnin' tah despair again, Gawd, it just won't stop!
So Ah went down, sad-looking.
Ah paused on a step an' frowned. "He's not heah yet, raht?"
"No Rogue, why won't you join us for a moment" Colossus urged.
Ah sighed an' nodded, that's all Ah need maybe, Ah went down an'
walked in the huge an' lightened room. Ah took a look at the tall
Christmas tree we have decorated with ribbons an' a star which befoah
Ah had often referred to as 'hope-giver'. But now Ah saw it nothin'
but some stupid yellow plastic carved material.
"Remy promised me he'd be home at six" Ah sat on the sofa beside
Storm grumblin'. "Why is he not back yet!"
"Rogue," Ororo comforted as she placed a hand on mah left shoulder. "
Maybe he has some private affairs that he needs to --"
"Private affairs?! Ah'm so tired of 'em! Ah wish --"
Then Ah heard A slam of a door that brought back silence in the room.
A tall dark figure crossed the room.
It was Remy alraht.
Ah felt a least secure but more angry at him foh not keepin' his
promise.
Remy had that playful look again, "Ooooh, what a kodak moment huh?"
Remy chuckled smilin'. "Envies me de most"
"Where have yah been Remy?" Ah asked impatiently.
Remy gave me an innocent smile. "Oh, hang-out wit' some guys in
downtown, I was goin' to shop but--"
"Ah don't want any of yoah excuses!" Ah thundered. "Yah promised y'all
be home at six, Ah waited for yah!"
Remy turned away.
"Don't look away from me LeBeau, Ah'm still talkin' to you!"
Remy gave a faint look at me that brought me down. "Chere, I wish I
could tell you"
Mah mouth hung open after his words. Remy gave a small smile an'
proceeded upstairs tah his room.
"What's that Cajun's problem?" Logan muttered.
Colossus shook his head slowly. "Maybe it's because of some ghost lady
he said before"
Then mah eyes widened. "Ghost lady?" Ah suddenly remembered, like a
flashback o' a lady Ah saw in Remy's mind. Remy promised me he'll tell
me about it, but in the mean time he hadn't.
Ah have tah know the truth! Ah quickly followed Remy up the stairs the
have a confrontation, another confrontation.
Ah went tah his room, when Ah did, Ah immediately knocked on the
door.
"Remy ..."
Silence answered me.
Ah pleaded. "Remy ... please, open the door"
"Can't talk now chere ..." Remy answered quite pitifully.
Damn, he's so stubborn! Here am Ah again, facing the biggest problem
o' mah life! Ah thought. "Please Remy, There's so much time yah already
have alone, Ah wanna help"
"You can't help me ... "
Now Ah realized somethin' was definitely wrong. Ah became worried foh
Remy again. Ah thought it was that Sinister again barging in on his
life! Or maybe, Erik the Red? Someone... more dangerous?
But Ah stayed firm, this time. Ah promised mahself, Ah would not do
anythin' stupid again, like leavin' him in Antarctica. Ah'm gonna face
it right now!
"Yes Ah can Remy, yah've said always that we'll take our problems
together, yah promised tah tell me about it!"
"I can't Rogue! I just can't, sil vous plait Rogue, leave me alone!"
His words cut mah heart bare. Ah felt tears comin' down, Ah cain't
believe he said that. Ah wish Ah was just dreamin' that somebody ...
somebody could wake me up ...
Storm came tah mah aid with Colossus, they started comfortin' me, but
Ah didn't felt any better, Ah fell on the floor cryin'.
Wolverine snarled. "Why that son of a --"
"No! Logan please don't!" Ah cried out. "Leave him alone ..."
24th of December 7:00 A.M.
It was mornin'. Ah woke up the earliest, Ah decided tah have milk an'
watch some television.
Usually befoah, Ah was excited foh Christmas dinner, the team's
traditions. Then we exchange gifts, it was magic. Ah love
those days when it's more than a party ... a get-together, it's love
Ah felt ... But Ah was sad in spendin' it now, Ah'm not feelin'
enlightened at all, not like befoah. Ah used ta buy outfits for the
event. Get excited with others' gifts... today was just... normal...
In the kitchen, Ah heard sounds. Just as Ah thought, it was Remy
pickin' somethin' in the kitchen. Ah approached the kitchen with
light steps, but Ah was too noisy for his instincts.
"Who --" Remy glared at me from the refrigerator door, Ah turned on a
smile. "Hi" Ah greeted faintly.
"Hi yaself" He smiled grimly an' was returnin' the milk in it's carton.
"Ah'll need that ... "
"Sure" He smiled at me, handing me the carton.
Ah accepted it, takin' it by holdin' his hands. Touchin' it.
"Thanks" He let go immediately like Ah was some parasite.
Ah frowned, he looked away. "Remy ..." Ah started. "Why are yah
ignorin' me all the sudden?"
"I have t' go Rogue" He made to move away from me.
"No!" Ah pulled his arms. "Tell me raht now, even if it hurts me, Ah
jis cain't take all of this pretendin'! Ah'll take it whatever it is,
jis tell me what's goin on!"
"No, not yet, de time..." He answered me helplessly.
"Is it her Remy, the one Ah saw in your mind?"
"No" Remy answered. "I admit she isn't bargin' me anymore ..."
Ah was bewildered. "Then what?"
"Chere" He looked me deep in mah eyes. "As much as I wanted to ... no
... maybe ... we should be separated for a moment"
"What? ...." That was torture foh me. Gawd how he could do this, Ah
wouldn't take that answer.
"Why Remy?" Ah asked. "A moment ... would take years tah me!"
"Jus' listen t' me girl. I know what I'm doin' ... just leave me,
understand?" He left me without mah answer...
Feeling sad again, Ah wept. As Ah always did. How he could do this
tah me? Ah thought. Isn't his love strong enough tah fight foh me?
Doesn't he love me that much?
Maybe he doesnt, he doesn't feel anythin' foh me anymoah. 'Cause Ah
left him in Antarctica, God it's all mah fault...
24th of December 6:00 P.M.
Just hours away till Christmas, didn't notice it. Raht now Ah saw
visitors coming, Sam Guthrie, Bobby, Scott and Jean, Betsy an' Warren,
Gen X and X-Force. We had other friends dropped by, Cecilia is heah
as is Beast. Maggott too. Ah heard their laughs, their
exclaiminations o' joy. Ah saw their undisputed smiles an' unendin'
happiness.
It was snowin' also, weather changed whatever it snowed.
So it was a White Christmas, for them ... for me it's a blue one.
Everone is dressed up. Everythin' is decorated an' prepared well.
Some dishes are not yet comin'. Ah was supposed tah bake Christmas
cookies. Ah do it everytime, but this time, Ah don't.
It's supposed tah be one o' the most touchin' an' magical moments of
mah life. But raht now ... Ah felt cryin'. Ah thought mahself stupid.
But Ah've said tah mahself, that as long as Gambit's heah, Ah'll
be happy, but raht now, he's not heah.
Ah was dressed up with a velvet long-sleeved off shouldered silk
dress that reached tah mah knees. Mah hair with a bun once again an'
some simple cosmetics, Ah have pretty earrings too, courtesy o' Jean.
And glittering necklaces, that's courtesy o' Betsy, Ah have stockin's
an' a high heeled purple shoes tah match mah outfit. People say
Ah'm definitely gorgeous an' 'dressed tah kill'. But it meant nothin'
ta me. Nothin'.
Ah hid away from people avoidin' conversation. But Bobby caught me.
"Rogue, hi. You're not going to greet your ... old friend?" Bobby
placed his hand on mah shoulders.
"Well ... hi" Ah smiled meekly. "Listen Bobby .. Ah'm not in a mood
foh a co--"
"Rogue in case you didn't know, it's CHRISTMAS FOR PETE'S SAKE!" Bobby
exclaimed loudly.
"Ah know that bull! Just please don' disturb me." Ah headed for mah
room but Bobby wouldn't take his grip off mah wrist.
"Bobby," Ah repeated. "D'ya mind?"
"Yes I do" Bobby gave me a serious look. "It's that Cajun again huh?"
"Don't tell me about him!" Ah let go from his grip. Ah started foh the
stairs. "Ah'm sorry Bobby, as much as Ah want tah enjoy Christmas, it
jis' cain't be" Ah ran up angrily cryin' again. Mah eyes is so tired
doin' that. Ah ran intah mah room and locked it. And cried on
mah bed, then Ah decided tah turn on the radio.
It hit directly tah mah favorite station. It has always been Remy's
an' mah favorite station. Ah guess he might be listenin' heah,
whatevah.
"Merry Christmas New York!" The happy DJ greeted. "Just Five hours
an' it's Christmas time! Good Evenin' it's John Steel here waitin'
for your Christmas requests!"
Ah felt like possessed. Ah was tremblin', grabbin' the receiver from
mah phone an' dialed the station's number.
"Yes, we have a caller! Your name please ..."
Mah eyes felt sore. " .... Rogue ..."
"Pardon me"
"It's Rogue"
"Well yes, Rogue" Ah noticed the DJ felt strange. "What is your
request?"
"Please come home foh Christmas by Bon Jovi" Ah answered, controlling
mahself from cryin'.
"Yup, anyone you want to dedicate this?"
"Yes... Ah dedicate it to Remy"
"Got it," Ah heard a click. " That's all?"
"Yes"
"Ok, Merry Christmas to you"
"Same tah you too" Ah put down the phone.
"And this is Please come home for Christmas by BonJovi, requested by
Rogue to Remy, hope you enjoy this, it's 7:15, good evenin'"
The song started, addin' tah mah pain. Ah was feelin' sad an' alone.
Bells will be ringing the glad, glad news
Oh what a Christmas to have the blues
My baby's gone (my baby's gone) I have no friends
To wish me greetings once again
Choirs will be singing Silent Night
Those Christmas carols by candlelight
Please come home for Christmas (please come home)
Please come home for Christmas (please come home)
If not for Christmas by New Year's night
Friends and relations send salutations
Just as sure as the stars shine above (yes they do)
This is Christmas, Christmas my dear
The time of year to be with the one that you love
Then won't you tell me, you'll never more roam
Christmas and New Year (Christmas and New Year's)
Will find you at home
There'll be no more sorrow, no grief or pain
I'll be happy (happy) that it's Christmas once again.
The song ended. Ah rubbed mah tears away. Ah turned the radio off ...
an' felt sleepy...
24th of December, 11:45 P.M.
Ah groaned as Ah woke up on mah bed. Ah looked at the clock an' saw
it was jis fifteen minutes till Christmas. Ah looked at t' mirror an'
fixed mahself up, an' headed out tah see everyone.
Ah took mah dark green sweater, it's not snowin' much. Everyone was
still there, havin' fun. Many greeted me, tryin' tah cheer
me up, some gave me gifts. Ah went outside then, feeling shaky an'
lonely, an decided tah flew up on the mansion's tower balcony.
Ah stood theah, leanin' on the balcony, prayin', sighing, taking deep
breaths ... dreamin' ... Ah was drifting away in mah dreams, starin'
at the stars an' wishin'.
Ah blew a wisp of air, an' clasped mah hands together.
Then Ah realized, fifteen minutes is over, Ah heard them cryin' Merry
Christmas, an' singin'. They celebrate, me, Ah despair.
"Rogue ... "
Ah was startled tah hear somebody. Ah turned around slowly .. an saw
Remy, standin' across me. His hair carried by the air. He had blue
denim jacket on that brought out his handsome face.
"R-Remy ... " Ah gasped in happiness, but didn't get near.
He walked slowly tah me. "Hi ... listen" He looked down. "What ...
I said dis mornin' ... I'm sorry"
Ah poked mahself tah see if Ah'm dreamin'. "You are?"
"Yes"
Ah covered mah face tah cry. He walked closer.
"Didn't mean t' hurt you ... I wouldn't do dat, never, I could never
hate you, didn't I told you dat? I .. was ignorin' you ... since I
was savin' your life"
Ah faced him mah make-up streaked.
"I am protectin' you chere ... now I felt like a coward ... I've heard
the radio. Y' remember every Christmas we spend together ...
we're happy"
Ah gave a little smile. Ah didn't realized then he was near me
an' he held mah hand.
"I'm so sorry chere. Believe me, if I become a traitor t' you again,
remember." He pulled out a box from his jacket pocket. He opened the
box and Ah gasped as Ah saw a gold ring in the box.
Ah realized it was real. He pulled it out an' Ah saw somethin'
engraved in it, there were our initials, with a heart in the middle.
He placed it in mah right forefinger.
"I love you Rogue, more dan anyt'ing in de world. Not'ing can destroy
my love for you, even if we are apart." He squeezed mah shoulders.
Ah let the tears fall. Ah slid mah arms tah his waist. He embraced me,
an' it felt wonderful. Ah embraced him back, feelin' his love an' care.
Ah smiled tah mahself, foh real this time.
"Ah love you Remy, Gawd Ah love you" Ah pressed mah face tah his chest.
He brushed mah hair an' whispered intah mah ear.
"Merry Christmas Rogue"
"Merry Christmas Remy ..."
End