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Chapters
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
 
 
 

When the Sky Falls Down ... - REVIEW THIS STORY

Written by Loup Garou
Last updated: 01/02/2007 02:01:11 AM

Chapter 3

The next morning Skye was awoken by Emily.

"Wake up! We goin' shopping!" yelled Emily.

"Give me fifteen minutes chere." grumbled Skye as she pulled herself out of bed and jumped into the shower. Fire minutes later, she was out and rushing to get dressed. The little girl sat bemused on the bed.

Finally, she was finished. Grabbing the invitation, she and Emily left the house, with Skye driving the Lada.

"Have any ideas t'where we should go, petite?" asked Skye.

"Hmm, yup! Turn here!" yelled Em.

Skye turned down the one-way street. After two blocks Em yelled stop.

Carefully, Skye pulled over and parked.

"Over dere!" shouted Em pulling Skye behind her.

There was nothing remarkable about the little shop that they were about to go into. They were in the French Quarter; a rather poor part at that.

Going into the shop, she could immediately see she had jumped to conclusions. A dangerous thing to do in New Orleans.

"Allo, how can I help y'?" asked the shopkeeper, who just happened to be quite a beautiful lady.

"Oui, Emily 'ere told me dat dis was de place t'get a ball gown." smiled Skye holding Em close. "I also need a wardrobe for her f'school."

"Really?! Wow!" cried Em.

Skye could of sworn she saw dollar signs flash through the shopkeeper's eyes as she preened at the compliment.

"Well, how and what for, would you like a gown?" asked the lady.

"I was invited to dis ball." said Skye handing over the invitation. The lady's mouth fell open.

"Y' be dat mysterious stranger?" asked the lady in awe.

Skye groaned, "Mysterious stranger? Where's I get dat name? Mais, je m'appelle Skye Devreaux." (But my name is Skye Devreaux)

"And you came to me to make your dress?" asked the lady astonished.

"Y' came highly recommended." smiled Skye squeezing Em's hand. "I need it three days from now an' I'll give y' wide birth t'use your creativity. Oh, I also need Em's cloths in 2 week. Take y' time."

"Oh yes!" gushed the lady grabbing her measuring tape. Within minutes all measurements were taken for the both of them.

"Oh, I'll need t'know what color de fabric will be." said Skye.

"Definitely forest green Mademoiselle." sighed the lady happily.

"Merci beaucoup." grinned Skye was the left.

"Skye! Someone stole de car!" gasped Em.

Skye looked over to where the car was once parked in disbelief. It was gone! Who would of stolen a Lada???

"Sorry Em." apologized Skye. "It looks like we be walkin' home. But mebbe we can get something t'eat on de way, eh?"

The frown that was on her face was replaced by a smile. "K!"

Walking down the street, they headed for Bourbon Street.

Remy LeBeau smiled. He was going to go through with his dare. Lapin had dared him to acquaint himself with their new mysterious stranger after Christoph's first encounter with her. Needing the opportunity, he himself, had dared Lapin back to steal her car and drive it back to her house.

He looked at her from his car. This was going to be your traditional pick up. Even though he had not seen her face yet, her hair, body and caring way with the little girl reminded him of Rogue. There was no way he could go back on the dare. How he still loved Rogue. He understood that she was listening to his self pity when she left him to die. He even called the X-men only to find out that she has disappeared, Cerebro was taken by Bastion and half the X-team was in Alaska.

Yet, his exile was over, but that didn't mean that the Assassins had let up. They had an uneasy truce that he and Bella had made when he got back. Yet, he would still watch his back.

He drove up to them and drove beside them.

"Y' need a ride home, Miss Devreaux?" smiled Remy, giving his most charming smile. "I be Remy, Remy LeBeau."

Skye stopped in her tracks. That voice. It was familiar. God! Could it be!?

Remy saw her stop and slowly turn. Her face was white as if she'd seen a ghost. He she known him? Or maybe she was still in shock about losing her car.

Skye promptly fainted.

Swearing a quiet curse to himself for not getting out of the car to catch her, he ran out and picked her off the ground. "Come on petite, hope into de car. I be y' neighbor."

Em hoped in to the car and they drove off.

"Hostile." (a french swear of which there is no english translation... although, very bad.), mumbled Skye as she slowly drew her eyes open. The three, no four heads in the room turned towards her in silence. Were they in shock?

Sitting up, looking down, she saw that she was sitting on a bed.

Her attention then fixed upon the four people in the room. Not recognizing her surroundings, she began to panic. But then she recognized Remy. "Remy Etienne LeBeau, take me home right now!!!" she said angrily getting off the bed.

Three people looked at her with surprise. How had she's known his middle name? Remy was looking at her curiously.

"Miss Devreaux, dis is my father Jean-Luc LeBeau, my cousin Lapin an' I believe you've already met Christoph," said Remy slowly.

Skye took a deep breath and calmed herself done. "Je m'excuse. But it was quite a startle wakin' up in someone's else's bed surrounded by men. Despite dat y' all be very good lookin'." She gave a winning smile. "I

t'ank y' for de invitation. It's quite an honor."

Jean-Luc smiled easily and so everyone relaxed. All except Remy. "Not a problem, chere. Had it not been us, it would've been someone else."

Skye thought it over, then an idea came to her. "Are dere goin' t'be kids dere. My ward would love t'come!"

"Y' have a ward?" asked Christoph curiously.

"I assume that Mr. LeBeau dropped her off... unless he left an innocent child in de streets o' de French Quarter." said Skye with emphasis.

"Non." said Remy sharply. "I brought her home Miss. Devreaux."

"Please, call me Skye." she smiled.

"Mais oui. O'course dere'll be kids dere." said Jean-Luc. "We have a big family."

"Dat's f' sure." mumbled Lapin.

It became an uncomfortable silent moment. Skye thought to herself, should I bring the subject up now or later about the little job for them? Now.

"Dere is somet'ing else I wan' to ask y'." said Skye slowly.

Jean-Luc's eyebrows rose a notch. He was good at reading people and she just became suddenly nervous. He was sure that everyone else in the room had noticed it too. Remy had gone on alert; it was the subtle shift in

weight.

She flopped down on the bed again and clasped her hands together. "Uncle Marc's last wish was f'me t'find an old family heirloom dat was stolen from us. Can y' help me?" her voice was barely a whisper. Thought of her

uncle came flooding back and tears started to fall from her eyes silently.

Jean-Luc made the first move. He came and sat down beside her. He gave her his shoulder. "Y' miss him, don' y'."

"More dan anyt'ing!" sobbed Skye onto his shoulder. Perhaps it hadn't been a good idea to have a solitary funeral. "He said dat y' could help me an' dat he trusted y'."

"He trusted us???" asked the four men in surprise.

Skye shook her head. "Yup. He said dat I could trust y' in a pinch. So can y' help me?"

Lapin and Christoph gave a humorous smile.

"What's it look like?" asked Jean-Luc softly. He didn't want her crying again on his new suit.

Carefully, she drew her grandmaman's miniature out of her purse. "It's my grandmaman. She was pretty at my age, wasn't she?" she asked softly looking into his eyes. Also carefully avoiding looking at Remy.

"Yeah, she was." sighed Jean-Luc in remembrance. Remy looked at his father's blissful face and saw love. He had loved the woman. It was uncanny how much Skye looked like her.

"It's de necklace. It was given t'my grandmaman."

"Y' look like your grandmaman." said Remy. "She was a pretty lady."

"Kind too. Always had a nice word f'everyone." sighed Jean-Luc obviously in the past.

"How'd y' know my grandmaman?" asked Skye curiously.

The question shook him to alert. "Dats what my father used t'say." he answered easily.

"Yeah, we'll find it for y'." said Jean-Luc looking at her.

"We will???" asked the other three Guild members in the room in shock.

"We will. Do y' have a problem wit' dat gentlemen?" asked Jean-Luc in an icy voice that none of the other men would dispute.

"Y' mean dat I won' have t'pay y'?" asked Skye. Wrong thing to say.

"Why do y' say dat?" asked Lapin sharply.

"Uh, Uncle Marc told me dat." gulping at the sudden change in all of them. "Dat's why I took out 3 million dollars. Was he lyin'?"

"Miss Devreaux!!" shouted em jumping into the room knocking over Skye back onto the bed.

"Whoa, petite!" laughed Skye. It broke the tension within the room.

"Maman told me t'come an' tell y' dat it's almost time t'eat!" squealed Em in delight. "She be makin' gumbo!"

"Hmm, tell y' maman dat I can' wait." said Skye smiling down at her.

"He's a nice man!" declared Em, pointing at Remy. "He got me mouse cream!"

"Ice cream? Did he now?" said Skye looking sternly at Remy. "Right before supper?"

"Nope, lunch. You've been out all afternoon chere." grinned Remy.

"Vraiment?" asked Skye, a blush creeping up to her cheeks and neck realizing that she had missed the greater part of the day.

"Yup." Remy smiled a dazzling smile.

"Would y' like t'come t'dinner?" asked Em addressing Remy.

Skye was taken aback. Remy in her house! But what could she do?

"Your welcome t'join us." said Skye slowly. "After all, y' did save me when I passed out."

"I'd love to." admitted Remy. Mebbe dis would give me a chance t'know her a bit more.

"Don't worry your pretty head." said Jean-Luc. "We'll get it for y'."

"We'd better get goin' or Mrs. Thompson will kill us." said Skye.

"I'll be over in an hour, d'accord?" said Remy.

"K! Well, wait f'ya!" said Em excited, pulling Skye out the door.

"Well papa, y' wanted t'find out more 'bout her." smiled Remy.

Jean-Luc's back was to the other three. They didn't see the shed tears that were running down his face. God how he missed her. Her smile, her laugh. She reminded him so much of her-- his wife. He would find the necklace he had given her so long ago. "Yeah, je sais. Excuse moi, s'il vous plait. (Yeah, I know. Excuse me please.) Have fun Remy. Lapin, get on it." He left the room, careful not to let the three men see his face.

"We're back!" shouted Em. Mr. Thompson grinned.

"I gave de other 23 servants de night off as y' requested." said Mrs. Thompson coming out of the kitchen.

"Merde! I forgot 'bout dat." grumbled Skye.

"Maman, she said a bad word!" said Em with a giggle.

"Je m'excuse Em, dat was not a t'ing f' a proper lady t'say." apologized Skye.

"Dat's okay." said Em happily because she bested an adult.

"Mrs. Thompson, we're goin' t'have anot'er guest f' dinner. Please set out another plate." sighed Skye.

"Yes Miss." smiled Mrs. Thompson, wondering who the mystery guest would be.

"You're goin' t'eat with us tonight, right?" asked Skye hopefully.

"We were goin' ta, me, my husband an' Em, 'cause y' asked us, but now y' have another guest..." Mrs. Thompson trailed off.

"I asked y' first an' dats not goin' t'change anything. Y' like family t'me now dat Uncle Marc is gone." said Skye, gently squeezing her hand.

"We've served dis family f'generations. It's been an honor servin' such people as y'." smiled Mrs. Thompson.

"We'll be there." smiled Mr. Thompson.

"Yahoo!" shouted Em. The door bell rang. It hadn't been an hour yet!

Mr. Thompson opened the door to see Madame Currer, New Orleans most famous and world renowned, dress maker.

"Madame." he said formerly.

"I have come t'see Miss Devreaux." she announced softly.

"Over here." smiled Skye from the other side of the foyer, sitting on the steps of the grand staircase. Madame Currer walked over to her.

"I have y' dress." she said softly, carefully handing over a box.

"That was quick." said Em in awe.

"I've had it made f' years an' now, I've met de perfect person t'wear it. Please, try it on." she urged.

Skye took the box, "Okay, hold on. I'll be right back."

Ten minutes later, she came down in the dress. Everyone in the foyer gasped as she entered. It was a forest green, velvet and satin gown, with a scoop neck line and a princess cut in the front. The back was cut to the dip in her back, with a cross that came from the front. The princess cut was embroidered along the waist with silver thread and a thin row of diamonds.

"Well, how d' I look?" asked Skye hesitantly.

"You're beautiful Skye." breathed Emily.

"You are truly an artist Madame Currer." said Mr. Thompson.

"Put dese on." smiled Currer handing her matching slippers." Y' need white glove dat go up just to de elbows an' somet'ing t'go around y' neck.

"I know de perfect t'ing. Hold on, I'll be right back." smiled Skye rushing back up the steps.

Coming back down with the gloves on, she had everyone curious.

"Dis is what I went t'get. I can' put it on by myself." smiled Skye shyly. In her hand was a diamond choker with a matching ring. "Dese were my grandmaman's t'ings. Dey were locked away in her treasure box."

"I'll help y' put den on." said Mrs. Thompson. Once they were on, she was a finished product.

"Dis was meant for y'." said Currer. Just then, the door opened.

"Um excuse moi, (excuse me), but I knocked and rang de door bell, but no one answered." smiled Remy coming into the house. People moved out of the way so Skye could see who the visitor was.

Remy stopped in his tracks. She was the most beautiful creature he'd ever seen. She'd taken his breath away. Is this what she was wearing to dinner??? He sure hoped so!!!

"Y' be de most beautiful t'ing I ever saw." said Remy in a husky voice.

"It's de dress f' de ball." yelled Em. Remy heard her, but didn't hear her. He was transfixed at the vision before him.

Can dat be him? Thought Skye. He was dressed up in a suit. Not to mention, that she could smell his after shave all the way across the room. Her knees felt like buckling.

It was Mrs. Thompson that shook them both out of their dazed states. "So dis is de guest. Welcome Remy LeBeau t'our home. Please, go sit down in de dinning room. Souper, will be served shortly. Emily'll show y' de

way."

"Come on Remy, it's dis way!" jumped up Em, pulling him along.

"I'll go change." said Skye quietly once she pulled herself together. "Oh Madame Currer, I would be honored if y' stayed f' souper as well."

"Skye, de honor's al mine." replied Madame Currer. "Call me Bethany."

"Mr. Thompson, please show my friend t'de dinning room." smiled Skye. They went off to the dinning room.

"Mrs. Thompson, is out last guest here yet?" asked Skye.

"Non, Belladonna Boudreaux is not here yet. She called sayin' sat she's be late."

Skye nodded and went upstairs to go change. "What should I wear?" she mumbled to herself. Remy was dresses up to the tee. Bella is coming. Shit is going to hit the propeller. She put away the dress carefully

till the next time she would wear it.

Mrs. Thompson had told her that all of the guests were waiting in the dinning room for her.

She sighed as she was about to open the door. Putting on her best smile, she entered. Everyone was sitting at the long, rectangle, dinning table. Bella and Remy were put right across from each other, with Skye in between at the head.

"I'm glad y' all could be here." smiled Skye.

"De pleasure is all ours t'be in such beautiful company." cooed Remy. Bella rolled her eyes.

Mrs. Thompson started to serve everyone gumbo.

"Yummy!" said Em loud enough for everyone to hear. "I love gumbo! How 'bout y'?" She turned beside her, to Bella.

Rogue chuckled inwardly at the pun. Logan always used to call Remy, Gumbo.

"I like it too." smiled Bella gently at Em.

"Are y' goin' to de ball?" asked Em to Bella. Mrs. Thompson looked like she wanted to strangle Em.

"I've been invited, but I'm not sure I can go." said Bella.

"I'm goin'." squealed Em.

"Are you?" shouted Mr. and Mrs. Thompson.

"Yup! LePiew said so." smiled Em. Remy choked on hid drink.

"You mean, Pepe LePiew?" asked Remy slowly.

"Yup! Dat's what rabbit said." said Em, after taking a big bite of gumbo.

Remy took a deep breath. Bella burst out laughing. "Y' mean Lapin."

"Dat's it!" said Em with her mouth full.

Skye needed to do something quick. "I hope y' don't mind Mrs. Thompson. I t'ought dat she might like goin'."

"That's okay!" said Mrs. Thompson quickly. This was a great opportunity for Em.

"Do y' t'ink y' can make a dress f' Em Bethany?" asked Skye.

"Pas de problem." smiled Bethany. She was enjoying the dinner conversation. Dinner around here was probably never dull.

"How y' goin' t'look after her?" asked Mr. Thompson cautiously.

"Dere'll be other kids dere. But just a few." said Remy easily. "Dey have a nanny. Y' don't have t'worry." He saw them both visibly relax.

"So, where'd y' two meet?" he asked putting on a front of curiosity, referring to Skye and Bella.

"We met at de bank. We were bot' makin' a withdrawal. Her's a rather large one." remarked Bella as if she knew the exact amount. "Probably t'buy a dress f' de ball, non?" she smiled as if she had said nothing wrong.

"Non!" piped up Em. "She needed t'get her grandmaman's necklace back."

"Oh really?" said Bella, her eyebrows rising.

"Papa said dat he would do it out o' de kindness o' his heart." smiled Remy evilly.

"Vraiment?" asked Bella totally surprised.

"Uh hun! Pretty necklace; sparkly." smiled Em.

"Were y' spyin' on us, tite?" grinned Remy.

"Yup!" giggled Em.

"Remy can I talk to y' outside?" asked Bella with an icy lithe.

"But desert is comin'..." protested Skye.

Remy cut her off. "Oui, maintenant. We'll be right back, chere."

"But,... but..." sighed Skye. "Okay, we'll wait f' y'." Even softer, she turned to Em and said, "Em, go wit' dem an' make sure dey don't kill each other."

"K!" said Em jumping out of her seat following them out of the room.

"What y' doin' here?" demanded Bella.

"I could ask de same t'ing of y'. Not sat it's any of our business. I was invited." said Remy taunting her.

"So was I." said Bella.

"Bumpin' into her wasn't an accident?" he asked sarcastically.

"Of course it wasn't." smiled Bella, which irked Remy even more. "We both know dat dis ball is a ploy t'ger her t'tell us."

"Oui, c'est vrai." admitted Remy charmingly, which irked Bella.

"I guess I will be at de ball. After all, y' father did invite me." she said sweetly.

"Make sure t'save me a dance chere." grinned Remy knowing that he had the upper hand.

Bella's smile went sour. Turning on her hell, she marched back into the dinning room, nearly tripping over Em.

"Skye, t'anks f' having me over. It was nice of y' to invite me." she said honestly. "But I'd better go now."

"Not a problem." smiled Skye. "I hope I'll see y' again soon."

"Me too." Bella smiled a genuine smile. Despite the fact that she wanted something from her, she liked the girl.

In the mean time, Em had grabbed onto Remy and hauled him back to his seat.

"Y' gotta try de desert. I made it!" she announced as Bella left.

"Y' did?" said Remy in mock surprise. "I guess I better try it den, non?"

Mrs. Thompson proceeded to bring out a bunch of triple chocolate cup cakes.

"See! I made dem all myself." smiled Em proudly taking one and handing it to Remy. Carefully, he bit into it.

"So, so... what do y' t'ink?" asked Em curiously.

"Very good petite." said Remy with a grimace.

"I'd better be goin'." announced Bethany after seeing Remy' face.

"But y' haven't had one of my cup cakes." sniffled Em.

"Petite, I need t'make y' dress an' I don' have much time. Y' do want a pretty dress f' de ball, non?"

"Yeah, okay. Y' can go."

Remy gave her the 'You lucky shit' look. With a smile, Bethany left. Remy looked over all the other people at the table. They were equally afraid. With a small charge, the plate of cup cakes that were sitting near the edge of the table, was 'pushed' off.

"Marcus... no!" yelled Em as a dog came running into the dinning room and ate the cup cakes on the floor. "My cup cakes!" she sobbed.

"Don't worry petite. Our Tante Mattie is makin' a bunch o' goodies f' de ball in three days." smiled Remy. Em's tears were gone in an instant.

Mrs. Thompson gave her husband an amused look, then proceeded to clear the table. Her husband helped as well. Em had run off from the table, leaving Skye and Remy, alone.

Remy was the one to break the silence. "Chere, dat was a good meal. T'ank y'."

"Y' welcome Remy. Y' know, y' an' Bella fight like an old married couple." remarked Skye with an impish grin.

The statement caught him off guard. "Really?" he asked guardedly.

"Really! Y' were sending icy look across de table all supper. If I didn't know any better, I'd say y' have an unspoken." she smiled.

"Absolutement pas!" said Remy in a sharp voice, then easing. "But I t'ink I have one towards y'."

Remy was the sudden shift in weight and the blush creeping up to her cheeks. He pressed his advantage.

Oh my God! Thought Skye. He comin' closer. What am I goin' t'do?

Leaning close to her, Skye cold feel his breath on her face. Although, he wasn't touching her.

Just then, Mrs. Thompson came into the room. "Miss, de phone is for y'."

The magic was gone in an instant.

They stood there an awkward moment.

"Can I treat y' t'lunch?" he asked suddenly.

"Sure." she said without thinking about the repro-cautions.

Smiling, Remy left but at the door he stopped, "Let's make it a day t'ing. I'll pick y' up at 11:30 a.m." He left.

Her emotions were in a tumble. She didn't know which would win, elation or blind fear. Relaxation was desperately needed.

Half an hour later, she was emerged in bubbles. "Now ids is de life!" she sighed happily. An areo bar was in reach, as well was her book and a martini. With jazz playing in the background, she was on cloud nine.

"How did I get caught up in dis mess?" grumbled Skye. thought of her uncle always came readily if she let them. Not known to the general public, her uncle had been a telepath. When he unlocked her memory, a flood of emotions had come back. He had helped her sort them out, forgive her parents and finally control her powers. Not only that, but it brought back her childhood accent.

Her life seemed to always came back to Remy. Damn that man! Does he recognize me? He sure don't act like it. Mind y', then again, y' never did know what dat man's t'inking. Speakin' 'bout t'inking., he asked me

out. She took a bit of chocolate. Even more amazin' dan dat, I said yes. God, what was I t'inking??!

She slowly drew herself out of the Jacuzzi, because the water was starting to get cold. and climbed into pajamas. "How did I get caught up in all dis mess?" was the last thing she mumbled before falling asleep

in bed.

"Papa, I'm home." said Remy going into the study. His father sat silently in front of the fire place. Quietly and secretly, he hid a picture he had been holding in his hands. It didn't escape Remy's notice.

"Have a good time?" he asked.

"Bella was dere." grimaced Remy at the memory, taking a seat beside him. "Papa can I see y' picture?"

Jean-Luc visibly stiffened and drew it quickly out of his pocket. "It's not'ing." And he threw it into the fire.

"Oh okay. Anyways, I be goin' t'bed. I have a date wit' Skye tomorrow." yawned Remy. the encounter with Bella had certainly take it's toll. He got up and left the room, closing the door.

Jean-Luc stared at the picture burning in the fire. A silent tear trickled down. Then another came and another and another. A sob escaped, and another and another. He had had many wives over the years he had been alive, but it wasn't until he met Christenne Devreaux. His soulmate. Now her picture, his only picture of her, was burring in the fire. "Damn my pride. Damn my miserable existence." he whispered to himself. He settled himself back into his chair, to pray. Pray for the forgiveness of his darkest sin.

Remy sat by the door in shock. He had never heard his father cry before. He had come to accept his wives deaths, his children's deaths as they got older and he remained the same. Who was de person in de whole world

sat he'd cry for? With that in mind, Remy started for bed.

 

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