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

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

Chapter 6

The Guilds' Council sat in the church, their neutral ground, to figure out what they were going to do. Remy sat beside Jean-Luc on the left side of the church, while Bella sat with Gris-Gris on the right side. Candra wasn't invited to this meeting. In fact, Candra sat in the dungeon of the Thieves Guild mansion guarded by both Thief and Assassin. They had taken their destiny into their own hands. It was about time, too.

"Tell us 'bout her." said Bella softly.

"She is Rogue o' de X-men. Her powers are invulnerability, she flies, an' she's super strong an' all from absorbing de powers an' memories o' Carol Danvers. She's not susceptible t' telepathic manipulation 'cause

of an encounter with' aliens by Ms. Marvel." said Remy with force. How could I o' been so blind???

"Y' said she has absorbing abilities," started Mark of the Assassins Guild. "But she can touch people at the moment."

"Dat's true. She can now control dem." replied Remy.

Christoph and Lapin sat behind Remy and Jean-Luc, waiting their turn to speak.

"If she's invulnerable, den it's impossible t' torture de information out o' dem." grumbled Bella. She liked the girl well enough, but she was threatening to bring down the Guilds and that, was unacceptable.

"Dat's true," said Remy. "But when it comes t' de matter o' de heart, dat is where she's most vulnerable."

Jean-Luc sat quietly pondering while holding the necklace in his hand, softly rubbing his thumb over top. He was thinking in the past...................

"Jean-Luc, y' know dat dis can' go on." sighed Christenne. "I'm lying t' my parents. I love y' and I want t' tell dem what's going on."

"Christenne, I'm a LeBeau de Leader o' Thieves Guild. If y' parents ever found out, I wouldn't be able t'see y' again, ever!!" said Jean-Luc a tear running down his face.

She looked up at him with adorable eyes. "So dat's what been keepin' y' from givin' yourself totally t' me!"

Wrapping her arms around him she drew him closer for a kiss.

"Y' know where dis is headin'." whispered Jean-Luc in a rough strained voice.

"Oui." she whispered back as the passion mounted. It indeed going to be long night.............

"So, for dat fact, I t'ink we should find any relatives dat she might 'ave an' exploit dem." said Christoph finishing off the conversation that Jean-Luc only heard the last line of.

"NON!" shouted Jean-Luc.

Everyone looked at him. They had taken his silence as acceptance to their plans.

"Jean-Luc, it's obvious dat we can't hurt her any other way." started Lapin.

Remy sat there, looking at his father.

"If y' hurt de people she love, den you'll be hurting me too." he whispered softly.

"What do y' mean Papa?" asked Remy uncertain all of a sudden. Where is Jean-Luc takin' dis?

He took a deep breath, "Skye's grandmere was my wife. She be my grandchild." There. He finally got it out. His head hung down low.

"QUOI?" gasped Remy, realizing that he had been pursuing his sister these past years. Jean-Luc slowly looked up at all the shocked faces.

Bella looked at him hard, "Y' did dat to get back at our Guild?"

"Non!!" he said harshly, then it softened to a whisper. "I loved her wit' all my heart." A tear ran down his face. A sign of weakness of which everyone noted.

"But y' knew what her family's connection wit' ours?" asked Marc coldly.

"Non, I didn't." said Jean-Luc wiping the tears off his face. "Excuse moi." He got up and left the room.

"Bella, I t'ink dat we should ask her why she not be doin' dis f' us anymore." said Remy as he was leaving, following after his father. "We'll try an' talk it out first an' y' know dat dis is de first time dat we could be truly free from Candra if we can convince Rogue, I mean Skye."

Bella nodded and started to converse with Mark and Gris-Gris, as did Lapin and Christoph.

"Papa, I didn't know." said Remy, taking a seat beside him in the confessional room that Jean-Luc had walked into.

"I didn't believe in de soul mate principle 'till I met her." he said with a sigh, his head resting against the wall. "She loved me an' I knew it from de very center o' my being. It didn't matter what each other did, or said, we had dis understanding. But it was our family, dis damn heritage o' mine dat kept us apart."

"I know how y' feel Papa." agreed Remy softly. "I'd been lying t' myself. It doesn't matter what she does t' me, my t'oughts keep comin' back t' Skye. I'm sure dat I did know dat it was her when I first met her, but, I didn't want to believe it. I didn't wan' t' get hurt again." Remy laughed harshly. "It seems t' be my lot in life, non?"

"Non! It's not y' lot in life Remy." said Jean-Luc angrily taking his hands into his own. "Remy, y' love her more dan anyt'ing. Admit it."

They both paused for a moment.

"Oui." he finally sighed.

"It's our family curse." chuckled Jean-Luc. "De women wit' de red hair and de love that returns passionately is our fate an' y' runnin' from it."

"PAPA! She left me t' die in de Antarctic!" he yelled angrily, then his voice came under control. "Even after I said dat I loved her."

"Did y' prove it Remy?" demanded Jean-Luc. "Did y' tell y' soul t' her? Did y' let her into y' life or did y' keep her at arms length? Did y' trust her enough t' tell her t'ings dat y' haven' told anyone else?"

The series of questions took Remy aback. He had tried, but his oath to his Guild had come into question with each of times he had tried to do just that.

Jean-Luc looked satisfied, his questions were being pondered. "Y' t'ought dat y' couldn't trust de one y' loved wit' y' secrets an' therefore, never tried."

Remy looked down on the ground. Once again, his father had hit the head of the nail. "Papa," Remy choked. "I've got to protect de Guild, I made de oath an' here y' are tellin' me not t' be careful?"

"Remy, I didn't say dat an' y' know it." snapped Jean-Luc.

"I've gone all dis time wit'out her an' I feel empty like never before." said Remy his control breaking to the point where a tear was goin' down his cheek. "I was first attracted t' her 'cause she was a challenge. I couldn't touch her den an' now I can. An' now I want t' more dan ever."

Jean-Luc took his son gently into his arms, "Den y' go do dat."

Remy looking into his father's eyes gave him a big hug. "Y' are de best Papa."

"I know. I just don' wan' y' t'make de same mistake I did." he whispered. "Be happy Remy." Remy stopped, but then opened the door an' left.

"Where y' be goin'?" demanded Bella as Remy was leaving the church.

"I'm goin' t'set t'ings straight between Skye an' I. Not only dat, but I'm goin' t'solve our problem." said Remy in a grim voice. Bella smiled, Remy was going to give that women a piece of his mind. She couldn't wait until she could see the aftermath!!!

"T'anks f' coming everyone." started Skye looking at Mrs. and Mr. Thompson and a couple of other staff members in the living room. "Y' all made a pact wit' my uncle dat y'd stick by me, but I now say dat if y'

want t'leave den I'm okay wit' it. I now 'ave de wrat' o' de Thieves' Guild an' de Assassins' Guild. Anyone wanting t' leave can do so now an' dey will still 'ave a job here after all o' dis is finished."

Everyone looked around to see if anyone was going to leave. No one moved an inch.

"Thanks." she whispered softly.

"Dere goin' t'come after y'." said Mrs. Thompson. "What're goin' t'do?"

"First off, I don't know. I have some ideas though. One is t' talk t' dem an' if dat doesn't work den it'll come down t' fighting probably." she said slowly, taking a seat with a sigh.

"We don't have very many options do we?" said Mr. Thompson. "Candra went and blurted it all out. I thought I would never see the day when she would compromise her position for the destruction of our family."

"Me neither Pierre." groaned Skye. "I didn't know what possessed me t' fly out o' de window! I promised myself dat I would never use my powers again!"

"Oui, y' did, but y' can't change dat now." said Mrs. Thompson gently.

Skye looked up at all her supporters. "Perhaps I should call de X-men?"

"Skye, I'm going to ask you a couple of questions. First off, do you really want them to know that Remy is alive?" asked Mr. Thompson.

"Non." admitted Skye. "Warren would kill him if he got de chance."

"Do you want the X-men to know about your affiliations with the Guilds and your role in it? They will need an explanation."

"Non." she said with a resounding sigh.

"And do you want them to get involved in something that is not their business?" asked Mr. Thompson calmly putting the facts in front of her face in a fashion that made it easy for her to understand.

"Y' know de answer to dat already." said Skye getting out of her seat to pace the room.

"Skye de love o' Remy is written all over y' face." smiled Mrs. Thompson. A movement in the curtains didn't alert anyone.

"Does it show all dat much?" said Skye with a tear running down her face. "He didn't trust me an' I can understand why now, but it still hurts. But it doesn't take away de fact dat I've hurt him, but I still love him. Dese past couple o' days I've seen more o' his life dan I've ever seen before.... I screwed up royally."

Mrs. Thompson came up and held her. "Shhh, it's okay. We'll get t'rough dis." Like a little child she was being held by the only family she had left.

"You be hurting too chere, but you've hurt me more dan y' can ever imagine." said Remy coming out from behind the curtain, with a determined look on his face. Besides that, he showed no emotion whatsoever. Skye gasped and jerked out of Mrs. Thompson's grasp.

"What're y' doin' here?" demanded Skye. "How did y' get in?"

"Nice accent chere. It suits y' an' it seems more natural." said Remy with his southern accent, frowning.

"Get out!" she screeched.

"Now, now chere, is dat de way y' treat de man y' love?" he asked softly, almost dangerously.

"I don't love y'!"

"Dat's not what I just heard Rogue... but now, I can call y' Skye." He advanced on her, walking towards her slowly.

The servants began to sneak out. They didn't want to get caught in the cross fire.

"I went back t'look for y', but y' weren't dere." she whispered softly taking a seat and putting her hands to her tear streaked face. Remy went over to the door and propped a chair up to the handle after they were all gone.

"We goin' t' settle dis.. tonight chere. Even if it takes us all night!"

Skye let out a small laugh, "I could break dat down in a second if I wanted t'."

"I'm sure y' could, but I'm sure dat y' want dis settled before de rest o' de Guilds come after y'."

"It's my life!!! If dis is what I want t'do den y' can't stop me!!!" screeched Skye. She had no control anymore and it struck a nerve with her.

"Oh on de contrary Rogue, dis is very serious. We been gettin' dis stuff from y' family f' hundred s o' years. Once y' take de elixir once, y' can't stop. Every seven years, de pull f' more becomes stronger an' stronger. It's like an' addiction which is very painful t' break. Would y' do dat t' your grandpere?"

"Excuse me?"

"Jean-Luc be y' real grandpere Skye." whispered Remy softly. She could detect a trace of envy in his voice.

"Mon Dieu." gasped Skye in shock. "But I shoulda known from what he had been tellin' me t'day."

"Not only does it hurt de Guilds, but it will hurt him de most. He be old Skye, very old. An' if y' say dat y' won't give any, de Guilds would go to any lengths t' learn de secret o' de elixirs. If dat means killing y', or hurtin' de ones y' love, den dats what dey'll do. I don't want t' see y' hurt. Why would y' want t' take de elixir away anyway?" asked Remy trying to get her to listen and actually have it sink in the enormity of the situation she had caused.

"Y' don't understand Remy." was all she said.

"Make me understand Skye!" he said fiercely, grabbing onto her arms.

"I can' 'cause I don' have de power t'do so." she whispered. Her family secret was now up in the open.

"What?" he asked confused.

"T' make y' elixir's comes from a magical power dat was given t' my family. I didn't go through de initiation ritual. Uncle Marc died before he could do dat. Now dere is no way t' make it." she turned her back to him. She didn't want to look at his face.

Remy came up to her and slowly turned her around. His hand lifted her chin so that he could look her straight in the face. "Skye, Rogue, I still love y'. I've never stopped an' I will never stop. Dere is dis burning inside o' me dat never lets up."

"I know Remy, I know." was all she could say. A burning began in the pit of her stomach.

Remy's eyes glared red as he brought her lips close to his, "Dis will be de first moment o' de rest o' our lives." he murmured as he pressed a fiery kiss onto her lips.

As they kissed a strange feeling came about her. "Remy," she said as she broke away. "I don' feel good." A wave of dizziness overcame her and Remy caught her as she became limp. Remy set her down on the floor in her dazed state, removed the chair from the door, picked her up and carried her to a couch in the parlor.

"No, not here." said Skye weakly.

"Why not?"

"'cause dis is where uncle Marc died." she sobbed all of a sudden. "We were sittin' here talkin' 'bout y' an' den he died."

Remy was stunned. Dey were talkin' 'bout me?

"Skye." said a hollow voice from behind them.

Remy turned sharply behind him. He hadn't heard anyone come in. There was no one there, but he could still hear the voice.

Skye looked up and there was her Uncle Marc. "Oncle!" she said in a daze. "I've missed y'." she said softly.

"An' I y' Skye. It's time f' your ritual."

"Really? Now?" said Skye puzzled. Remy looked at her funny. She was talking to her Uncle? Although, he didn't doubt it, there was a shift in the atmosphere a couple of moments ago. He wouldn't put it past her that

she was telling or speaking the truth.

"Skye, y' can't take away de elixir away from dem." said Marc Devreaux softly. "We made a pact, a covenant wit' people t' make elixir f' dere Guilds. We keep our word... always."

"Okay Uncle. What do I do?" asked Skye. Remy took a seat on the seat across from her and decided just to watch.

"It's really easy Skye. Just repeat after me."

"Repeat after me." smiled Skye.

"You know what I mean, don' be sassy!"

"Sorry Uncle." she said reproved.

"I Skye hereby swear dat I will follow de rules an' protect de Guilds in time o' need an' give dem de elixir wit' de power dat I will be granted." said her Uncle.

"Wow.. dats a lot easier dan what de other Guilds have t'do!" exclaimed Skye.

"Just say it Skye." sighed her Uncle. "I can' be here very much longer."

"I Skye hereby swear dat I will follow de rules an' protect de Guilds in time o' need an' give dem de elixir with' de power dat I will be granted." repeated Skye. As soon as her Uncle was here, he was gone.

"Don' go!" sobbed Skye, reaching out to the place where he was standing before. "Not again!" She curled up into a ball on the couch.

Remy came over to the couch and pulled her into his arms. They sat for hours together, Skye crying and Remy soothing.

"Where are dey?!" demanded a voice from outside the parlor in the hallway.

Skye had fallen asleep in his lap. "Were o'er here." he said in a moderate voice so that he wouldn't wake her up.

Bella and Jean-Luc walked into the room. "Everyone else was told t' stay outside by de butler." gritted out Bella.

Remy looked at them both with immense satisfaction. "We be goin' t'get our elixir again."

"Good job Remy." smiled Jean-Luc, his face showing the obvious pride for his son.

Bella only gave him a nod and she turned abruptly to go tell her troops of her change of heart.

Jean-Luc watched her leave the room. "Remy is dere anyt'ing else y' haven't told me yet?"

"I'm goin' t' marry her." he said simply.

"She agreed to marriage??" he asked surprised.

"Non, I haven't asked her yet, but I t'ink dat it's mutual consent." grinned Remy. Jean-Luc stared at his son.... he didn't want to know.

"Y' know dat dere be problems when it comes time f' de tithe." sighed Jean-Luc. "Y' ready t' take on de challenge? Y' can't help her, or influence her in any way... on top o' dat, you'll 'ave t' take another oath which won't allow y' t' take my throne when I die. It'll go t' Lapin."

Remy didn't even have to think about it a moment. "Oui, I will. I 'ave her now an' I'm not going to let her go again."

"Really?" smiled Skye as she opened her eyes.

"Y' been faking it since de beginning?" asked Remy curiously, in surprise.

"Non, just when Bella yelled, 'Where are dey!' Dat's when I woke up." laughed Skye softly.

"Skye, Rogue, love o' my life, for better or worse an' dere has been a lot o' de worse, but I wan' t' make it better... will y' marry me?" asked Remy softly.

"Oui." she whispered softly. Electricity ran through them both as they kissed.

"If it's like dat everytime chere... y' not goin' t' keep me away." smirked Remy.

"Good." sighed Skye as she drew him close again.

Jean-Luc left the room, taking out the necklace out of his pocket, he sat down again and pawed it thinking back...........

"Y' just given me de ability t' go on Jean-Luc" she whispered into his ear. Jean-Luc rolled over to face her. Her face a flushed in a beautiful pink as her chest heaved up and down under the sheets that she wore.

"Stay wit' me." he whispered.

"I can't." a tear rolled down her cheek. "But I love y'. But I also have an' oath, an' de only way y' could stay wit' me is t' give up y' Guild."

"I can' do dat either." he sighed sadly, his heart ached.

"I need t' produce an' heir Jean-Luc." she whispered. "Stay wit' me instead."

"We be at a standstill." he said dejectedly. His world was breaking apart.

"Den dis will be de last time we see each ot'er Jean-Luc. My parents want t' meet de person dat I'm goin' out wit' dis is where is counts de most." she said with a tremor in her voice.

"Can we still be friends?" he asked anxiously.

"Jean-Luc, I won't even be able t' acknowledge y' in public." she said seriously.

"If dat's de way, den dat's de way it's goin' t' have t' be. But, I'll never stop lovin' y'." he murmured softly giving her one last passionate kiss as he stole off into the night once again.

"I love y'." was the choked whisper from Christenne that Jean-Luc would never hear again. But on the contrary, he did and he turned back for one more look and then he was gone...........

Hist'ry has a way o' makin' t'ings right. Thought Jean-Luc as he set the necklace down on the side table in the hallways with a little note and headed outside to tell members of his Guild that everything would be okay.