Title: Remy's Beauty
Fandom: X-Men
Author: Apache Firecat
Characters: Gambit/Rogue, Jubilee, OCs
Rating: PG-13/T
Summary: Remy LeBeau's life has turned out beautiful indeed.
Word Count: 1,382 words
Written For: Fan FlashWorks 461. Line and X-Men 15 #9. Laugh
Warnings: Future AU
Disclaimer: All characters within belong to their rightful owners, not the author, and are used without permission.







Remy looked up from strapping in his boys and turned around at the sound of the familiar voice belting out what was now an old country song. He could still remember when the singer had first come out, or at least when his chere had first caught wind of her music. Rogue had always been a Shania fan, and Remy knew there was no hot-blooded male who could possibly deny the attraction of either woman. He grinned broadly as he watched his wife strutting across the parking lot, scooting the buggy and stomping her boots in time to the music.

Every head in the parking lot was turning, and it wasn't just because his chere had a beautiful set of lungs on her. She also had beautiful, long legs, beautiful hair, beautiful... well, everything, he thought with pride and growing warmth. His Rogue had always been beautiful. She'd been the beautiful woman he'd ever set eyes on all those years ago when he'd first met her, and despite everything and one they'd encountered since and all they'd been through, Remy still had never seen a more beautiful being. He also knew he never would be for, in truth, even if their physical appearance could somehow best his Chere's, there would still never be anyone more beautiful than her for him.

His red eyes quickly noted the men beginning to stray along behind her, and the others coming up from various cars and trucks in the lot. Women were beginning to pout. He spied one slapping her beau and others watching Rogue as hungrily as he himself was. There was, of course, a big difference between his Chere making a scene now in a parking lot in old Louisiana and making one in their earlier life together. For one, she could control her powers now, thanks be to the good Lord up above for Lord knows he'd've spent most his life in a coma otherwise, but more'n that, much more than that, she was his. There wasn't any other Swamp Rat going to lay claim to what he'd put a ring on decades before.

Grinning, knowing his boys were safe behind them and, for a change, no one dared attack them on what they had made their home turf, Remy headed out to meet Rogue. He swayed his hips, ignoring the stares he got, and danced with her as she scooted along. The kids laughed, except for the eldest who rolled his eyes. He heard Jubilee snort. "Just you wait, kid," she said, not sounding unlike her old man. "One o' these days, that's gonna be you."

"Uh huh!"

Remy's grin only grew as his son stuck his tongue out at the former mall rat. Things really had changed over the years, and all for the best. He met Rogue, grabbed the basket, and sent the shopping cart for a quick spin. His girls laughed and squealed. He caught its bottom rail with a foot kicked out behind him, careful not to let it take his young'uns too far, and grabbed his wife with his hands. The afternoon sun glinted on their matching wedding bands, and it was not without another surge of pride that Remy heard several guys grunting and grumblingly in dismay and ultimately moving on.

"Ah'm gonna getcha while Ah've got you inside!" Rogue sang along, smiling up at him.

God, the woman somehow managed to still grow ever more gorgeous with each passing day! And she was his, all his! Remy's heart was bursting with pride, joy, and love. "You got me long ago, Chere, an' you didn't have to get me inside to do it!" He winked at her and was just lowering his lips over hers when he heard their daughter pipe up behind him.

"What's inside, Daddy?" she asked.

"Yeah? What do you mean momma didn't have to get you inside to get you?"

He was set to ignore their twin girls when he heard Jubilee bust out laughing. Then all three of their cells went off at once, and Remy smirked. Serves you right, he thought, ignoring the familiar, sharp ringtone as Jubilee answered hers and returning his focus to kissing his wife. He didn't bother to resist dipping her either as he kissed her passionately, his tongue sweeping suavely down her mouth and across hers.

He could still remember when he used to hate seeing her parade around in front of other men in the short, cut-off blue jean shorts she was currently wearing, but he honestly didn't care anymore. Let the world look! Let them ache with envy for what he had and they'd never stand a chance of taking away from him! He'd had Rogue taken from him before, and been taken from her himself, but he'd learned finally to accept that, no matter what evil mutants, aliens, or even gods might steal them away, they would always keep fighting until they ultimately made it back to one another. Love really did find a way, every time.

He heard Jubilee calling to them from what seemed far away and did not bother to lift his head. Instead, he just kept kissing his wife, even ignoring a honking car horn.

"Daddy! Daddy!"

"Dad," his eldest called, "I think you and Mom've gotta go!"

"Nah," that was Jubilee, who really did sound more like Logan the older she got, "this one's on me. But get the kids outta the road, Swamp Rat!"

He could hear her grin in her voice and knew she was happy for them. The X-Men were happy for them; it's why they rarely called them. He'd thought, at first, that he'd miss saving the world and making a difference, but the truth was, as long as he had this amazing woman in his arms, he had all he could every want in this world. Even their children were extra special bonuses.

"Mom!" one twin whined persistently. "What's it mean getting Daddy inside?"

"Yeah," the other agreed, "how do you get him inside?"

Rogue was the one to finally lift her lips from their kiss. She was breathing shallowly and grinning from ear to ear, and Remy knew his husbandly duties were happily fulfilled. "Nevah you mind, dahlin's, but let's see about gettin' you inside again later tonight, Remy."

"I can't wait, Chere." He winked at her, and only then did he realize that the horns were blaring.

"You lovebirds," Jubilee grunted, "you're holdin' up traffic! Come on!"

Rogue blushed lightly as she hurried the buggy out of the road. Remy still insisted on taking his time following her. After all, he was no longer viewed as a lowly Swamp Rat, no longer chased after by the Thieves or Assassins Guilds, and this was his home. He came to the car and wrapped his arm around Rogue again, pressing her close against the automobile for which he'd finally traded his bike in when Rogue was pregnant with their third child. His life had become amazing!

"Keep it between the lines, you two." Jubilee winked at them. "I'm out. Shogo'll pick me up."

Remy nuzzled Rogue's neck, but his wife insisted on keeping her senses intact. "Are you sure y'all won't need us on this one?"

"I'm sure," Jubilee answered. "Besides, you've got a car full of groceries and a horny Swamp Rat to contend with." She laughed and headed away, but Remy growled underneath his breath and promised himself he'd remember he owed her one when she returned, "Oh, and they'll tell you kids all about the birds and bees and how your daddy gets into your momma when you get home!"

"Euuw! Yuck!"

Remy's head finally swung at that as he looked down into his eldest son's knowing, red eyes and disgusted face. Somehow, he had a feeling his boy already knew more than he needed to!

"Merci," Remy muttered.

Rogue kissed him quickly. "Later, shugah," she promised with a wink, then turned around and bent in those short shorts he'd come to love over the years. He admired the view as she worked on unloading the basket. Lord, what a view! he thought. He'd have his hands full when they got home, but Mon Dieu, if every minute of every day wasn't worth it with this marvelous woman!



The End